Congratulations to Cormac O’Brien, who was the convincing winner of this year’s Rathmines Junior Chess Championships. I believe he scored 7/7 (corrected), in an all-play-all format, a tremendous result under any circumstances.

Andrew McGrath was runner-up on the basis of cumulative scores.

Unfortunately, I do not have access to the final table or final results. I will, of course, publish them if I do receive them. As for the Intermediates – I still do not know the final result, but will post it soon. (see Michael’s comment below – there was a 3-way tie at the top, so the controller will have to determine a single winner, if any)

Senior Round 6 Results

No Name             Result   Name          

 1 Goralski, L (4)    0 : 1    Kennedy, M (3)
 2 Lynch, P (9)       0 : 1    Killane, J (7)
 3 Moore, K (6)       0 : 1    Delaney, K (2)
 4 Fagan, L (5)       1 : 0    Doyle, P (8 )
 5 Kalam, A (1)       0 : 1    McEvoy, P (10)

Final Table

Place Name                       Rtg  Score Progr.
 1-2  Killane, Jack              1716 4.5     20.5
      Kennedy, Michael           1777 4.5     18.5
  3   Delaney, Killian           1998 4       11.5
  4   Fagan, Leon                1731 3.5     11.0
 5-6  Moore, Ken                 1730 3       16.0
      Goralski, Lukasz           1752 3       13.0
  7   Kalam, Abul                2147 2.5     12.5
  8   Doyle, Philip              1709 2        10.5
  9   Lynch, Peter               1630 1.5      7.5
 10   McEvoy, Pat                1566 1.5      4.5

Played Tuesday, 14th May, 2008. Rathmines Club Championships, Senior section.

Of all the games played last night, this struck me as the most interesting. It is far from perfect, but is a very tactical and attacking game, full of brave decisions by the eventual winner. Sometimes, bravery is rewarded with a win. But it is always rewarded with a fun game.

Ken Moore (1675) vs. Abul Kalam (2115)
Queen’s Pawn Opening (London System)

Replay the whole game here: http://www.chessvideos.tv/replayer-insert.php?id=5325

1. d4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. Nbd2

Ken plays the London System as white.
6…0-0 7. Rc1 Re8 8. 0-0 Nh5 9. Bg5 Nd7 10. c4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 b5

After 11…b5?! Ken now enters a line where he sacrifices the bishop for two pawns and a fair attack. Although risky, it proves to be both unsettling to his opponent and to present lots of practical chances too.

12. Bxf7+!? Kxf7 13. Rxc6 Nhf6 14. Qb3+ Kf8 15. Bf4 Bb7 16. Rc7

[A much better move is the sacrifice 16. Ng5!

Position after possible 16. Ng5!

This zwichenzug threatens mate on f7 and adds fuel to the attack. This was spotted by Mindaugas during the game and pointed out to me. Indeed, Fritz says it is an overwhelming attack. 16... e6 [16...Bxc6?? 17. Qf7#] 17. Nxe6+ Rxe6 18. Qxe6 Bxc6? Not forced, but this is a sample line. 19. Bd6+ Qe7 20. Bxe7+ Ke8 21. Bxf6+ Kf8 22. Qe7+ Kg8 23. Qxg7#.]

Now, back to the actual game. 16…Bd5 17. Qb4? a6? [17…Bxf3 18. Nxf3 Nd5 forks queen and rook and wins.]

 
After possible knight fork on d5

18. Rfc1 Nh5 19. Bd6?! A spectacular move and again quite risky. Not quite sound, but all part of generating doubt in the opponent’s mind. 19…Nb6 [Better is 19…Bxf3 20. Nxf3 exd6 21. Qxd6+ Re7 22. Ng5 with an attack, but less chance for success because he is still down a lot of material.]

20. Rxe7 Kg8? He should take on e7 and try to hold on. 21. e4 Be6 22. d5 Bd7 23. Ng5 Rc8 24. Rxc8 Nxc8 25. Nf7 Qb6

Position after Qb6

26. Rxd7 Nf6 27. Rc7 Nxd6 28. Qxd6 Qb8? [28…Qd4 was much better] 29. Ng5 Now, the game is effectively over. 29…h6 20. Ne6 Bh8 31. e5 Rc8 32. exf6 Rxc7 33. Nxc7 Bxf6 34. Qe6+ 1-0.

The annual Summer Team Tournament starts soon. This annual event provides an opportunity for players of all strengths to play as part of a small team in competing against other Rathmines players.

June 2008 – Controller: John Maher

• Entrants will be placed into teams of approximately equal strength with three players per team
• Games will not be graded
• Results will be entered into the Summer Ladder competition
• There is no entry fee
• There are no prizes
• One round per week played on Tuesdays, starting June 3rd 2008
• If both players agree, they may play the following Thursday
• If a player is unavailable, a member of approximately equal strength, but not from another team, may be substitued
• All moves in 90 minutes per player

Members wishing to enter should sign the sheet posted in the club, contact John Maher, or leave a comment in this posting. Thanks.

I have done a quick set of calculations in Excel, to reveal whose ratings have changed the most over the last rating period. Mainly, the changes are due to the inclusion of the just-completed Leinster leagues, but also some tournaments.

At the top of the increased ratings list is Andrew McGrath, with a very impressive increase of 181 points, to go from 937 to 1118. He is followed closely by a trio of Ennis players, Kannika, Atanas, and Ed. Although the Ennis team were eventually relegated, the ratings increases reflect the great individual performances of the team.

Derek rose 56 points to 2033, largely because of another board prize for the Armstrong A team. Places 8 to 12 are dominated by Armstrong B players. And Jack is back! With a 43 points rise, Jack showed his good form throughout an impressive Armstrong season.

Rathmines vs. Dunshaughlin; Played 7th May 2008.
1 Peter Bishop  1392 ½ / ½ Patrick Launders 1543
2 Atanas Kouhtev  1319 0 / 1 Niall Mulligan 1543
3 Cieran Byrne  1257 ½ / ½ Barry Higgins 1482
4 Paul Mogerley  1340 ½ / ½ Senan Bannon 1449
5 Dave O’Connell  1397 1 / 0 Eamon Launders 1210
Score 2½ – 2½
Board 5 eliminated and so Dunshauglin advance.

The Irish Chess Union has just published the new rating list for May 2008.  The full list can be found on the ICU website at:

http://www.icu.ie/ratings/list.php

Here are the new ratings for Rathmines players:

Rathmines Senior 2008 – Round 5 Pairings

1 Killane, J (7) : Kennedy, M (3)
2 Moore, K (6) : Kalam, A (1)
3 Doyle, P (8 ) : Goralski, L (4)
4 Delaney, K (2) : Lynch, P (9)
5 McEvoy, P (10) : Fagan, L (5)

Standings
Place Name Rtg Score Progr. M-Buch. Buch.
1-2 Killane, Jack 1716 3 12.0 6.5 11.5
Kennedy, Michael 1777 3 10.0 5.5 9.0
3 Kalam, Abul 2147 2.5 8.0 6.0 10.5
4-7 Moore, Ken 1730 2 9.0 7.5 11.0
Delaney, Killian 1998 2 7.5 6.5 11.0
Doyle, Philip 1709 2 6.5 5.5 8.5
Goralski, Lucasz 1752 2 6.0 6.5 11.0
8-9 Lynch, Peter 1630 1.5 4.5 5.5 9.0
Fagan, Leon 1731 1.5 4.0 5.5 8.5
10 McEvoy, Pat 1566 0.5 2.5 5.5 10.0

Cross Table
No Name Feder Rtg 1 2 3 4 5
1. Kalam, Abul 7:L 8:W 4:W 5:d 6:
2. Delaney, Killian 5:W 7:L 3:d 8:d 9:
3. Kennedy, Michael 10:d 9:W 2:d 6:W 7:
4. Goralski, Lucasz 6:L 5:W 1:L 7:W 8:
5. Fagan, Leon 2:L 4:L 9:W 1:d 10:
6. Moore, Ken 4:W 10:W 7:L 3:L 1:
7. Killane, Jack 1:W 2:W 6:W 4:L 3:
8. Doyle, Philip 9:d 1:L 10:W 2:d 4:
9. Lynch, Peter 8:d 3:L 5:L 10:W 2:
10. McEvoy, Pat 3:d 6:L 8:L 9:L 5:

Junior – Round 6 Pairings
Results
No Name Result Name
1 Cunningham, E (8 ) : O’Boyle, U (7)
2 Gaffney, J (1) : O’Raw, M (6)
3 Mowlds, D (2) : McGrath, A (5)
4 O’Brien, C (3) : Hall, S (4)

Standings
Place Name Rtg Score Progr. M-Buch. Buch.
1 O’Brien, Cormac 1185 5 20.0 8.5 11.5
2-3 McGrath, Andrew 937 3.5 14.5 8.5 11.5
Hall, Shane 701 3.5 12.0 9.0 13.5
4-5 O’Boyle, Una 1197 2.5 11.0 8.5 13.0
Cunningham, Ed 859 2.5 9.5 9.0 13.5
6 Gaffney, John 1200 2 11.0 8.5 13.0
7-8 Mowlds, Dee 705 0 0.0 12.0 19.0
O’Raw, Marian 700 0 0.0 12.0 19.0

Cross Table
No Name Feder Rtg 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Gaffney, John 8:W 2:W 3:L 4:- 5:- 6:
2. Mowlds, Dee 7:L 1:L 8:L 3:L 4:L 5:
3. O’Brien, Cormac 6:W 7:+ 1:W 2:W 8:W 4:
4. Hall, Shane 5:L 6:W 7:d 1:+ 2:W 3:
5. McGrath, Andrew 4:W 8:d 6:W 7:L 1:+ 2:
6. O’Raw, Marian 3:L 4:L 5:L 8:L 7: 1:
7. O’Boyle, Una 2:W 3:- 4:d 5:W 6: 8:
8. Cunningham, Ed 1:L 5:d 2:W 6:W 3:L 7:

2008 Intermediate CC – Round 6 Pairings
Results
No Name Result Name
1 Cranny, K (1) : Kilbride, R (6)
2 Osborne, J (5) : Koomvalai, K (8 )
3 Maher, J (2) : Bishop, P (4)
4 Byrne, C (7) : Freer, P (3)

Standings
Place Name Rtg Score Progr. M-Buch. Buch.
1-3 Freer, Pat 1393 3 14.0 9.5 13.5
Byrne, Ciaran J 1257 3 11.5 8.5 12.5
Maher, John 1437 3 10.5 9.5 13.5
4-5 Osborne, James 1355 2.5 12.5 10.0 14.5
Bishop, Peter 1392 2.5 7.5 8.5 12.5
6-7 Koomvalai, Kannika 1139 1.5 8.5 9.5 13.5
Cranny, Kieran 1559 1.5 6.0 9.5 13.5
8 Kilbride, Ray 1341 1 4.5 10.0 14.5

Cross Table
No Name Feder Rtg 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Cranny, Kieran 5:L 4:W 2:L 8: 7:d 6:
2. Maher, John 6:d 5:L 1:W 7:d 3:W 4:
3. Freer, Pat 4:W 8:d 6:W 5:d 2:L 7:
4. Bishop, Peter 3:L 1:L 8:W 6:d 5:W 2:
5. Osborne, James 1:W 2:W 7:L 3:d 4:L 8:
6. Kilbride, Ray 2:d 7:L 3:L 4:d 8: 1:
7. Byrne, Ciaran J 8:L 6:W 5:W 2:d 1:d 3:
8. Koomvalai, Kannika 7:W 3:d 4:L 1: 6: 5: