Armstrong B get taught a lesson

Here´s the scorecard from the Armstrong match Dublin University vs. Rathmines B, played 24-Feb-09

Bd.	Dublin University	ICU #	Rating	Result	Rathmines B	ICU #	Rating
1	Karl McPhillips	5243	2297	1 – 0	Abul Kalam	16042	2059
2	Tim Harding	541	2042	1 – 0	David Goggins	497	1876
3	Valentin Burcea	NA	1900	0.5 – 0.5	John Aherne	9	1693
4	Colin Menzies	4836	1919	0 – 1	Michael Kennedy	3955	1796
5	Stephen Moran	5388	1912	0.5 – 0.5	Graeme Walsh	4984	1620
6	Peter Hayes	4540	1896	1 – 0	John Crowley	277	1634
7	Rory Delaney	5160	1827	1 – 0	Peter Lynch	813	1578
8	Samir Kurjak	8681	1813	1 – 0	Peter Bishop	3335	1400
				6 – 2

BEA result vs. Dun Laoghaire

(BTW …apologies for the very late delivery of updates to the website – I’ve been otherwise engaged!)

Dun Laoghaire vs. Rathmines
BEA, Round 9, Played 18th February 2009

1. Cormuin O’Reilly 1308 0 – 1 Ed Cunningham 933
2. Conor Lennon 1308 0 – 1 Rob Wilson 858
3. Brendan Tecklanborg 1 – 0 Frank Cooke 765
4. Patrick Klotz UG 1 – 0 Dee Mowlds 700
5. Richard Daly 991 1 – 0 Peter Cooke 700

Ireland wins Louis Braille Chess Tournament

Irish Braille Chess team with their trophies

L-to-R: Philip Doyle, Eamonn Casey, Martin Keane and Sean Loftus.

A report from Sean Loftus, a member of the winning team
On Friday, 2nd January, 4 of us flew to Edinburgh to represent Ireland in the Louis Braille Bicentenary Chess Tournament. The members of the team were Sean Loftus, Philip Doyle (member of Rathmines CC), Eamonn Casey (Longford) and Martin Keane.
The tournament took place during National Braille Week which was arranged by the Scottish organisation, Royal Blind, to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Louis Braille. The Braille Chess Association of the UK organised the tournament.

In addition to the UK and Ireland there were teams from France, the Netherlands and Sweden. A sixth team was made up of 2 players from Belgium and 2 from England. An unusual feature of this Louis Braille Bicentenary Tournament was that it was restricted, not just to blind players, but to braille users. On this occasion tape recorders were not allowed and the medium for noting down the moves played had to be braille. The scoring system used was 2 points for winning a match and 1 point for a tie.

Ireland started with a 3-1 success against France and followed up with 2 narrow victories against Sweden and the combined Belgium-England team. This put us 1 point ahead of both the UK and the Netherlands, who had drawn their match in round 2.

Round 4 found us up against the UK team. A win for Philip on board 1 and draws for myself and Eamonn gave us the edge. Could Martin get the draw which would give us victory in the match? He battled hard but eventually ran out of time. This tied match was good enough to keep us ahead of our hosts, but we were now joined by the Netherlands on 7 match points. We now knew that a win against the Dutch in our final match would give us first place. Philip got us off to a great start with an early win. Next to finish was Martin, and his draw kept us in with a great chance of success. Unfortunately, I could not maintain the momentum and a loss meant that it was all up to Eamonn. But we were not to be denied. Eamonn had built up a superior position and his opponent soon conceded the game.

Ireland finished first on 9 match points with the UK 8 and the Netherlands 7.

There were outstanding individual performances by Philip with 4 wins and a draw and by Eamonn with 3 wins and 2 draws.

The food and accommodation at the Capital Hotel were excellent. We are most grateful to Royal Blind and the UK Braille Chess Association for giving us the opportunity to take part in this most enjoyable tournament.

(A shorter version of this article appears on the NCBI website: http://www.ncbi.ie/ncbi-news-magazine/ncbi-news-spring-2009/louis-braille-spring-2009)

Armstrong A results Rounds 8 and 9

Malahide vs. Rathmines A
Armstrong Cup, Round 8

Justin Daly 1877 0 – 1 John Delaney 2264
Frank McMahon 1855 1/2 – 1/2 Mindaugaus Janusaitis 1921
Paul Taaffe 1755 0 – 1 Darren McCabe 1897
Gerry Buckley 1656 0 – 1 Killian Delaney 1950
Gerry Smith 1663 1 – 0 Tony Scannell 1790
Paul Reilly 1618 0 – 1 Jack Killane 1809
Melvyn King 1642 1 – 0 Ken Moore 1683
Vincent Blisset 1637 1 – 0 Leon Fagan 1773

Final Score: 4.5 – 3.5 to Rathmines

Kilkenny vs. Rathmines A
Armstrong Cup, Round 9
Alex Baburin 1 – 0 Peter Cafolla
Mark Quinn 1 – 0 Killian Delaney
Mindaugaus Janusaitis 1/2 – 1/2 Ryan-Rhys Griffith
Eamonn Keogh 0 – 1 Tony Scannell
Darco Polimac 1/2 – 1/2 Darren McCabe
Ferghil O’Dwyer 1/2 – 1/2 Jack Killane
Liam Delaney 1 – 0 Ken Moore
Maurice Buckley 1/2 – 1/2 Leon Fagan

Final Score: 5-3 to Kilkenny

GAMES TO FOLLOW SOON….

BEA result against Elm Mount

Rathmines vs. Elm Mount, played 3rd Feb. 2009

(Rathmines home)
1. Ed Cunningham 966 1/2 – 1/2 Sean Davdren 1167
2. Pat O’Brien 938 0 – 1 Kevin Murray 1092
3. Rob Wilson 858 0 – 1 Donal Harrington 936
4. Dee Mowlds 700 0 – 1 Sean McGowan 1030
5. Marion O’Raw 700 0 – 1 Harry Carey 925

Abul stars as Armstrong B team lose out to Bray

Report from Michael Kennedy, captain of the Armstrong B team

On Tuesday night, 10-Feb-09, the Rathmines B Armstrong team lost 3-5 to a far superior Bray / Greystones team.
 
From a Rathmines perspective, Abul was definitely the star of the show.  He’s had a tough season on top board so far, but we all shared in Abul’s relief and delight as he scored a huge win against Joyce (2166).
 
Lukasz was impressive as he ground out a close B vs N ending to win with Black against a higher rated player.

I got my first win of the season (see below).  Reynolds got himself into a bad Benko and allowed me to have it my own way with a strong d5 / b5 bind.  It became more double-edged once he got in …f5, but I figured I was better placed to take advantage of an opening of the position.  (See the full game, with comments, below).
 
Burns did well against Beckett’s English and was a clear pawn up for nothing.  Beckett came back into it with good play on the long diagonal and dark squares.  He gained a big advantage when Burns overlooked a mating threat on the long diagonal.  Burns fought on with a small chance of a draw, but didn’t get it in the end.
John commented:

Sadly, I messed it up. I won a pawn, then he sacced a second for compensation that was livelier than I expected. I gave back a pawn, and then walked straight onto a landmine. It was Q+B+2 pawns versus Q+KN+1 pawn, but he was far more active and, crucially, his king was safe.

Michael’s win was a master class on the white side of the Benko Gambit. He destroyed Reynolds on the queenside and when his opponent opened up on the kingside, he trounced him there as well. Let’s just say I won’t be playing this defence against our captain if I meet him in the club championships!! 
Goggins came close against former Irish Champion Daly.  He got what he described as a fairly equal position against Daly’s Sicilian, then blundered and lost.  It’s tough at the top.
 
Walsh was adventurous as he sacrificed the exchange in a Sveshnikov in return for getting a White Pawn to f6.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to capitalise on it and eventually lost.
 
Sadly, Peter’s winning streak came to an end, though it was never going to be easy against a player 300 points higher rated.
 
To sum it up, we’ve got to be pleased with the 3 – 5 defeat, given that they were higher rated on every board.  It could have been even better though, if a few things went our way.

Michael Kennedy (1796) vs Pat Reynolds (1929)

Michael plays the white side of a Benko Gambit and shows how to punish some anti-positional moves from black. I play the Benko myself occasionally and have had mixed results. The only way to win with it is to generate counter-play as quickly as possible, striving for open lines on the queenside as much as possible. Black’s approach is different and white builds up a good position very quickly.

Replay game here: Kennedy vs. Reynolds

Kennedy vs Reynolds 2009, Benko Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 Bb7

This is a very unusual move in this position. The overwhelmingly favoured move is a6, immediately challenging the b5 pawn. White then can take on a6 (Benko Gambit Accepted) or advance to b6 (a more modern treatment) or stay where it is. In any case, black gets lots of play on the queen side as compensation for the lost pawn.
5. Nc3 g6
The logical follow-up to Bb7 would be to play e6, to try and isolate the d5 pawn and put pressure on the central white squares.
6. e4 d6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Nd2

White immediately starts a plan to transfer the knight to c4. This is a common theme in Benoni-type positions, with pawns for white on e4 and d5, and black pawns on c5 and d6. In those positions, black has normally played e6 and loosened protection for the d6 pawn. White’s plan there is to increase pressure on d6. Here, it is more likely to increase the pressure on the queenside and forestall the freeing advance e5/e6.
8…O-O 9. Nc4 Nbd7 10. Be2 Nb6

To be considered now for white is Na5!, increasing pressure on the bishop on b7 and the weak c6 square, which he may even try and occupy. His own move keeps an advantage however.
11. Ne3 Qc7 12. a4 Rad8 13. O-O e5

Now black’s problems are almost fatal. e5 fails to weaken white’s grip on the white squares or open the e-file, he is facing a5 followed by Nc4 next, his fianchettoed black-squared bishop is blocked, and he is still a pawn down. The position resembles a King’ Indian (at least on the kindside) but the difference here is that white has an overwhelming position on the queenside.
14. a5 Nc8 15.Nc4 Qe7 16. Bg5 h6 17. Be3 Nd7 18. Qd2 Kh7 19. Bd3 f5

A move that at least generates counterplay. Again, this move is almost invariably part of a King’s Indian plan to counter-attack on the kindside. But the chances of succeeding here are not good.
20. exf5 gxf5 21. f3 Qf6 22. g4!
A great move, that completely turns the tables on black’s attack. It might be hard to visualise such a move, which looks weakening, but in fact it is right. Black, of course, cannot advance the f5 pawn, and because of white’s superior space advantage and better pieces, his attack crashes through.
22…Ne7 23. Kh1 Rg8 24. gxf5 Nxf5??

But this is the final blunder and black’s position collapses. He exposes his knight to the pin, with no hope of saving it.
25. Ne4 Qf8 26. Nexd6
Attacking both b7 and f5…
26… Ba8 27. Bxf5+ Kh8 28. Bg6
Or Bxh6, which might be even quicker! 28…Bxd5 29. Qxd5 1-0

Armstrong B in close contest with Bray

Here’s the scorecard from our Armstrong match Rathmines B vs Bray (10-Feb-09). A superb win for Abul on board one, while Lukasz and Michael also brought home full points. 

Rathmines B vs. Bray/Greystones

1 Abul Kalam 2059 1 – 0 John Joyce 2166
2 David Goggins 1876 0 – 1 Colm Daly 2277
3 Lukasz Goralski 1769 1 – 0 Danny Roberts 1807
4 Michael Kennedy 1796 1 – 0 Pat Reynolds 1929
5 John Burns 1774 0 – 1 Brian Beckett 1884
6 Philip Doyle 1733 0 – 1 Kristof Takacs 1956
7 Peter Lynch 1578 0 – 1 Eric Bennett 1871
8 Graeme Walsh 1620 0 – 1 Brian Gaines 1636
3 – 5

Blitz Round 1 Results

Rathmines Blitz

Round 1 – January 27^th 2009

Standings

Place Name                Rtg Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.     GP

  1   Delaney, Killian    1922 9        32.0  43.0   45.0 100.00
  2   Crowley, John       1634 8        29.0  39.0   37.0  50.00
 3-4  Kouhtev, Atanas     1405 6        34.0  44.0   26.0  40.00
      Scannell, Tony      1790 6        31.0  41.0   29.5  35.56
  5   Killane, Jack       1829 5.5      34.0  44.0   28.0  31.11
 6-7  McEvoy, Pat         1535 4        33.5  43.5   23.0  26.67
      Osborne, James      1306 4        26.0  36.0   21.0  22.22
  8   McCran, Roland      1180 3.5      31.0  41.0   19.0  17.78
9-10  Byrne, Ciaran J     1320 3        31.0  41.0   13.0  13.33
      Maher, John         1402 3        27.0  37.0   15.0   8.89
11-12 Burke, James        1500 1        29.5  38.5    5.0   4.44
      Mogerley, Paul      1325 1        29.0  38.0    8.5       

Cross Table

No  Name              1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9  

1.  Delaney, Killian 7:W  4:W  2:W  3:W  5:W 12:W 11:W 10:W  8:W
2.  Killane, Jack    8:W  5:W  1:L 11:W  4:L  7:L  9:W  3: D 10:W
3.  Scannell, Tony   9: D  6:W 12:W  1:L 8:W  4:L 7:W  2: D  5:W
4.  Crowley, John   10:W  1:L  7:W  5:W  2:W  3:W 12:W  6:W  9:W
5.  McEvoy, Pat     11:W  2:L  9:W  4:L  1:L  8:W  6:W  7:L  3:L
6.  Burke, James    12:L  3:L  8:L 10:L  9:W 11:L  5:L  4:L  7:L
7.  Kouhtev, Atanas  1:L 10:W  4:L 12:W 11:W  2:W  3:L  5:W  6:W
8.  Maher, John      2:L 11:L  6:W  9:W  3:L  5:L 10:L 12:W  1:L
9.  Mogerley, Paul   3: D 12: D  5:L  8:L  6:L 10:L 2:L 11:L 4:L
10. Byrne, Ciaran J  4:L  7:L 11:L  6:W 12:L  9:W  8:W  1:L  2:L
11. Osborne, James   5:L  8:W 10:W  2:L  7:L  6:W  1:L  9:W 12:L
12. McCran, Roland   6:W  9: D  3:L  7:L 10:W  1:L  4:L  8:L 11:W

Ratings (Local)

No  Name            

1.  Delaney, Killian 1922 9.0/9 8.46     5 1489  2488
2.  Killane, Jack    1829 5.5/9 7.74   -22 1515  1595
3.  Scannell, Tony   1790 6.0/9 7.38   -14 1526  1651
4.  Crowley, John    1634 8.0/9 5.76    22 1534  1885
5.  McEvoy, Pat      1535 4.0/9 4.05    -1 1568  1525
6.  Burke, James     1500 1.0/9 5.31   -43 1433  1082
7.  Kouhtev, Atanas  1405 6.0/9 2.70    33 1557  1682
8.  Maher, John      1402 3.0/9 3.06    -1 1523  1398
9.  Mogerley, Paul   1325 1.0/9 2.43   -14 1500  1149
10. Byrne, Ciaran J  1320 3.0/9 2.34     7 1500  1375
11. Osborne, James   1306 4.0/9 2.34    17 1491  1448
12. McCran, Roland   1180 3.5/9 1.08    24 1512  1432