Leinster Cup Competitions up and Running

Last week saw the commencement of the 3 Leinster Chess Union end of season cup competitions. Rathmines have entered a team in each of the three competitions, and all three teams played their first match this week. Nick Scallan reports on the outcomes.

 

Branagan Cup. (Armstrong and Heidenfeld)

Rathmines’ first Brannigan Cup match proved to be a rematch of the last round of the Armstrong with our opponents being St Benildus, away from home. The result this week worked out much better for Rathmines, with us winning a tight match by 3.5 pts to 2.5pts. the last game to finish was the match between Tomasz and Zdravko Monojlovic, which went down to the last 20 seconds on both players clocks, and which unfortunately result in a win for Benildus.

Killane Shield (Ennis and lower).

Rathmines played a very difficult match at home last night to the Ennis Runner Up squad from Bray/Greystones. Despite being outrated by a combined 2,228 points we put up a strong team performance and fought out a tight 2.5 to 3.5 loss.

The strength of the Bray team was evident in the first three boards to finish, which left the score at 3-0 to Bray. John O’Connell had the most difficult role of taking on their 1,763 rated B1 (Brian Gaines), whilst Ciaran Byrne lost to an opponent 300 points stronger on B4, and Matthew Gallagher was beaten by their 1,502 rated B4, were again we were conceding over 400 rated points.

Things started to turn around for us, with two excellent wins for two of our younger players. Fiachra Scallan on board 3, managed to outplay his 1,640 rated opponent in a 2 minor piece and 5 pawn each endgame to overcome a 449 points differential to get us on the board, and this was quickly followed by Liam Coman on B6, coming back from a 2 pawn and 50 minute time deficit to get a great win over Bray captain Mervyn Honner.

The last to finish was then Nick Scallan’s B2 game with 1,604 rated Garrett Curran, where Nick managed to fend off a very strong king-side attack before both players agreed on a draw very late on.

All in all a very satisfactory result for the team given the strength of our opposition.

Brennan Cup (U1500)

Our Brennan cup team were also in action on Wednesday night away to a Dun Laoghaire squad who had finished third place in this years BEA. The top two boards resulted in draws, with Joe Flood drawing with Tony Kitterick on B1, and John Maher drawing with Ivan Baburin, who has started back playing league matches this season. On B3 Andrew McGrath had to give way to the very strong Cian McGovern Leahy who shared this years Leinster U16 title with our own Scott Mulligan. Pat O Brien got a good win on B5 for us, but it wasn’t to be our night, with Dun Laoghaire running out 4-2 winners

Club Championships 2013 – Round 5

Rounds 5 and 6 are set for Monday 13 and 20 May, except by other prior arrangement.  There are still some €5 entry fees outstanding.  Anyone who hasn’t paid yet can give it to the controller on the night.

GROUP A – Round 5
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Delaney, K (1)	1 – 0	Killane, J (6)
2	Goggins, D (8)	0 – 1	Kalam, A (3)
3	Doyle, P (13)	1 – 0	Aherne, J (5)
4	Skrzypnik, T (2)	.5 – .5	Mulligan, S (12)
5	McEvoy, P (14)	1 – 0	Bermingham, T (4)
6	Hirmer, R (11)	1 – 0	Burke, J (9)
7	Goralski, L (10)	1 – 0	Kouhtev, A (17)
8	Lynch, P (16)	0 – 1	Nikrow, S (15)
GROUP B – Round 5
No	Name	Result	Name
1	O’Connell, J (4)	0 – 1	Freer, P (2)
2	Scallan, N (5)	1 – 0	O Conchobhair, F (3)
3	McGrath, A (8)	.5 – .5	Scallan, F (7)
4	Byrne, C (6)	0 – 1	Gaffney, J (1)
GROUP C – Round 5
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Papadopoulos, S (5)	.5 – .5	Collins, K (1)
2	Byrne, P (6)	0 – 1	Butler, T (4)
3	Coman, L (7)	.5 – .5	Balkanay, A (3)
4	Mowlds, D (8)	1:0	BYE

Matthew Gallagher has withdrawn from Group C

GROUP A – Standings after Round 4
Place	Name	Loc	Score
1-5	Kalam, Abul	1891	3
	Delaney, Killian	2012	3
	Doyle, Philip	1633	3
	Killane, Jack	1792	3
	Goggins, David	1737	3
6	Aherne, John	1819	2.5
7 – 10	Mulligan, Scott	1656	2
	McEvoy, Pat	1614	2
	Bermingham, Tony	1867	2
	Skrzypnik, Tomasz	1901	2
8 – 11	Burke, James	1721	1.5
	Hirmer, Raimund	1689	1.5
	Kouhtev, Atanas	1453	1.5
14-15	Goralski, Lukasz	1711	1
	Lynch, Peter	1494	1
16-17	Nikrow, Shahram	1531	0.5
	Burns, John	1758	0.5
GROUP B – Standings after Round 4
Place	Name	Loc	Score
1	O’Connell, John	1288	3.5
2-4	Scallan, Nick	1246	2.5
	Scallan, Fiachra	1180	2.5
	McGrath, Andrew	1115	2.5
5	O Conchobhair, Fergus	1353	2
6-8	Byrne, Ciaran	1225	1
	Freer, Pat	1368	1
	Gaffney, John	1407	1
GROUP C – Standings after Round 4
Place	Name	Loc	Score
1	Collins, Kevin	1100	3.5
2	Byrne, Paul	730	3
3-6	Balkanay, Arda	982	2
	Coman, Liam	711	2
	Butler, Tom	982	2
	Papadopoulos, Sotitios	818	2
7	Gallagher, Matthew	997	1.5
8	Mowlds, Dee	700	0

Bank Holiday Monday 6 May 2013

The club will be closed for Bank Holiday Monday, 6 May 2013

5 Rathmines Players Selected for Irish Junior Training Squads

 

The ICU Junior selection committee have today selected 28 Juniors for national training squads with a view to enhancing the prospects for Irish Juniors in the forthcoming Junior International competitions during 2013. The squads consist of 7 U18 boys, 5 U18 girls,8 U14 mixed and 8 U12 mixed.

Rathmines are delighted to see that 5 of our young players have been included in the squads.

Scott Mulligan (Ennis, rating 1,566) has been selected for the U14 squad, whilst 4 Rathmines players have been selected for the U12 Squad; Michael Higgins (BEA, rating 1,335), Fiachra Scallan (BEA, rating 1,191), Matthew Gallagher (BEA, rating 1,081) and Eoghan Turner (BEA, rating 952).

The Selection of the final teams for the Glorney/Glibert/Robertson/Stokes Cups, which take place this July in Cardiff will be on the basis of the May published ratings.

In 2012, 4 Rathmines payers – Scott Mulligan and Peter Cooke at U14, and Michael Higgins and Fiachra Scallan at u12, played in the Robertson/Stokes cups v England/Scotland Wales, whilst Michael Higgins also represented Ireland at the European U12’s in Prague. Matthew Gallagher also represented Ireland in both the World U10’s in Slovenia and European U10’s in Prague.

Rathmines players at the 2012 Glorney International event in Daventy England, July 2012, versus England, Scotland and Wales. L to R Peter Cooke (u14’s ), Michael Higgins (u12’s), Fiachra Scallan (u12’s), Scott Mulligan (u14’s)

Club Champs 2013: Round 4 (29-Apr-13)

GROUP A – Round 4
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Kalam, A (3)	0 : 1	Delaney, K (1)
2	Skrzypnik, T (2)	0 : 1	Doyle, P (13)
3	McEvoy, P (14)	0 : 1	Killane, J (6)
4	Mulligan, S (12)	0 : 1	Goggins, D (8)
5	Burke, J (9)	0 : 1	Aherne, J (5)
6	Bermingham, T (4)	1 : 0	Goralski, L (10)
7	Hirmer, R (11)	.5 : .5	Lynch, P (16)
8	Nikrow, S (15)	0 : 1	Kouhtev, A (17)
GROUP B – Round 4
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Scallan, F (7)	.5 : .5	O’Connell, J (4)
2	McGrath, A (8)	.5 : .5	Scallan, N (5)
3	O Conchobhair, F (3)	1 : 0	Byrne, C (6)
4	Gaffney, J (1)	1 : 0	Freer, P (2)
GROUP C – Round 4
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Balkanay, A (3)	0 : 1	Collins, K (1)
2	Coman, L (7)	0 : 1	Byrne, P (6)
3	Gallagher, M (2)	0 : 1	Papadopoulos, S (5)
4	Mowlds, D (8)	0 : 1	Butler, T (4)

GROUP A – Standings after Round 3
Place	Name	Loc	Score
1	Kalam, Abul	1891	3
2-8	Mulligan, Scott	1656	2
	McEvoy, Pat	1614	2
	Delaney, Killian	2012	2
	Doyle, Philip	1633	2
	Killane, Jack	1792	2
	Goggins, David	1737	2
	Skrzypnik, Tomasz	1901	2
9 – 10	Burke, James	1721	1.5
	Aherne, John	1819	1.5
11 – 13	Goralski, Lukasz	1711	1
	Bermingham, Tony	1867	1
	Hirmer, Raimund	1689	1
14-17	Burns, John	1758	0.5
	Nikrow, Shahram	1531	0.5
	Lynch, Peter	1494	0.5
	Kouhtev, Atanas	1453	0.5
GROUP B – Standings after Round 3
Place	Name	Loc	Score
1	O’Connell, John	1288	3
2-4	Scallan, Nick	1246	2
	Scallan, Fiachra	1180	2
	McGrath, Andrew	1115	2
5-7	O Conchobhair, Fergus	1353	1
	Byrne, Ciaran	1225	1
	Freer, Pat	1368	1
8	Gaffney, John	1407	0
GROUP C – Standings after Round 3
Place	Name	Loc	Score
1	Collins, Kevin	1100	2.5
2-4	Byrne, Paul	730	2
	Coman, Liam	711	2
	Balkanay, Arda	982	2
5	Gallagher, Matthew	997	1.5
6-7	Butler, Tom	982	1
	Papadopoulos, Sotitios	818	1
8	Mowlds, Dee	700	0

Club Champs 2013: Results Rounds 1 and 2

GROUP A – ROUND 2
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Goralski, L (10)	0 : 1	Kalam, A (3)
2	Bermingham, T (4)	0 : 1	Mulligan, S (12)
3	McEvoy, P (14)	.5:.5	Burke, J (9)
4	Aherne, J (5)	0 : 1	Delaney, K (1)
5	Burns, J (7)	0 : 1	Killane, J (6)
6	Nikrow, S (15)	.5:.5	Doyle, P (13)
7	Lynch, P (16)	0 : 1	Goggins, D (8)
8	Kouhtev, A (17)	0 : 1	Hirmer, R (11)

Note: Group A – Round 2 saw entries from John Aherne and defending champ Killian Delaney.  Both get half-point byes for Round 1.

GROUP B – ROUND 2
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Scallan, N (5)	0 : 1	O’Connell, J (4)
2	O Conchobhair, F (3)	.5:.5	Freer, P (2)
3	Byrne, C (6)	.5:.5	Scallan, F (7)
4	Gaffney, J (1)	0 : 1	McGrath, A (8)
GROUP C – ROUND 2
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Byrne, P (6)	1 : 0	Balkanay, A (3)
2	Collins, K (1)	1 : 0	Coman, L (7)
3	Gallagher, M (2)	.5:.5	Butler, T (4)
4	Papadopoulos, S (5)	1 : 0	Mowlds, D (8)

GROUP A – ROUND 1
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Kalam, A (1)	1:0	Lynch, P (13)
2	Hirmer, R (8)	0:1	Bermingham, T (2)
3	Killane, J (3)	0:1	Mulligan, S (9)
4	Doyle, P (10)	.5:.5	Burns, J (4)
5	Goggins, D (5)	0:1	McEvoy, P (11)
6	Burke, J (6)	1:0	Kouhtev, A (14)
7	Nikrow, S (12)	0:1	Goralski, L (7)
GROUP B – ROUND 1
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Scallan, N (5)	1:0	Gaffney, J (1)
2	Freer, P (2)	.5:.5	Byrne, C (6)
3	Scallan, F (7)	.5:.5	O Conchobhair, F (3)
4	O’Connell, J (4)	1:0	McGrath, A (8)
GROUP C – ROUND 1
No	Name	Result	Name
1	Butler, T (4)	.5:.5	Collins, K (1)
2	Coman, L (7)	1:0	Gallagher, M (2)
3	Balkanay, A (3)	1:0	Mowlds, D (8)
4	Byrne, P (6)	1:0	Papadopoulos, S (5)

National Club Championships

We intend to enter a Rathmines team in the National Club Championships which are being held in the Teachers Club, Dublin on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th April next. There is likely to be 4 rounds, one on Saturday morning, one on Saturday afternoon, one on Sunday morning and one on Sunday afternnon.

There will be a team of 6 with 2 subs. Board order is a matter for the club but the declared order cannot be changed. The average rating must be at least 1600.

We need several players who can play 3 or 4 games while several might be only able to play one game. Several players have already expressed interest/availability.

We’re aiming to enter the strongest team we can muster, so please give it consideration

We must enter the team by 18th April so we need to know as soon as possible.

Would  interested players contact Jack Killane at jackkillane@hotmail.com.

Upcoming Events

April 8th, Monday: Rathmines Club Championships, Senior, Intermediate and Junior. entries on the night. Continuing each Monday apart from Bank Holiday

April 27, 28 Sat/Sun: The National Club Championships will be held in the Teacher’s Club, Parnell Sq. West, Dublin 1. Rathmines will be entering a team – contact Jack Killane, if interested.

Coming Soon: Cup Competitions, Branagan, Killane, Brennan

Rathmines Club Championships 2013

This year’s Rathmines Chess Club Championship will start on Monday 8^th April at 19:30 sharp.  As ever, there’ll be 3 sections (Juniors under 1200, Intermediates between 1200-1599, Seniors over 1500) with one game per week over 6 rounds.  The schedule will be:

Monday 8th April 2013: Round 1

Monday 15th April 2013: Round 2

Monday 22nd April 2013: Round 3

Monday 29th April 2013: Round 4

Monday 6th May 2013: bank holiday – club closed

Monday 13th May 2013: Round 5

Monday 20th May 2013: Round 6

 

In the event of a tie for first place, the Champion will be determined by a rapid playoff (unrated) on the Monday immediately following the final round.  Open to all members.  Entries €5 to the controller, Michael Kennedy

Rathmines website closed temporarily

The club committee have handed over responsibility for the website to someone else. Before they are ready to start, I (Tony) am shutting it, partly, down. I’ve very much enjoyed running the site for the last few years, but I recently decided to step down as i cannot devote any time to it any more.

The website is for the purpose of informing members of up coming events, relaying games, reporting on results, etc. Recently, it has degenerated into a side show of petty commentary and irrelevant banter. I know i might stand accused of censoring light banter, which most of it is. But a lot of it is not in the interests of the club. So, i have deleted the previous top post to clear the most egregious examples. 

Please, no more comments until we are back up and running again.

 

 

Curragh chess club change address

Curragh Chess Club have moved…
01-Jan-2013 The Curragh Chess Club have moved to new premises. From 1st January the club will be located at

Teach Dara,
Academy Street,
Kildare Town (Exit 13 from M7).

All club matches will be held here including Thursday night and Saturday Leinster League matches.

The premises is fully wheelchair accessible with tea / coffee available. Access is from Exit 13 off the M7 same as Kildare Village Retail Outlet. Turn right at Tescos towards Town Centre (Monasterevin Road) and take next right approximately 200 metres from Tescos onto Academy St / Grey Abbey Rd. Teach Dara is 200 metres down this road on the left in the former De La Salle Brothers house.
Contact Mark McLoughlin at 086 – 8723297.

John Burns: one hasty move can cost you a game

click here to replay this game:

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=73859

Burns,J (1770) – Rogers,Kieran (1700) [D17]

Kilkenny (5), 25.11.2012

[Burns,John]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5

Coincidentally all my games with White were met by this line of the Slav Defence. My unimpressive score of 1/3 suggests I have homework to do… 6.Bf4 6. e3 and 6. e5 are far more popular replies 6…e6 Fritz recommends 6….Nd5 with (already) a half-point advantage to Black 7.e3 Bb4 8.Bxc4 Nd5

9.Bxd5?! As white, having to give up your white-squared bishop for knight so early in the game, and for no tangible benefit, is clearly a disaster 9…exd5 10.Qb3 Na6 11.0–0 Qa5 12.Ne5 [12.Na2 going backwards never seems right, but this at least hints at the pressure White has on b7] 12…0–0 13.f3 f6! Black responds actively, and doesn’t wait around for White to get in e3-e4 14.Ng4™ Bd3 but doesn’t follow up correctly, with ..Bxg4 15.Rfd1 [15.Nxd5 Naturally, Fritz finds the tactical refutation 15...Bxf1 16.Nxb4+ Rf7 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Rxf1] 15…Bc4 16.Qc2 Black has weakened the white squares around his king 16…Be7 17.Qf5 Qd8 18.e4 Qc8

19.Ne3 [19.Qh5 doesn't work for White 19...f5 20.Ne5 fxe4 discovers an attack on Bf4 21.Nxc4 dxc4 22.Ne2 exf3 23.Qxf3 Qe6–+] 19…Qxf5 20.Nxf5 Bb4 21.Nd6 Bxd6 22.Bxd6 Now that White has eliminated Black’s bishop pair, the position is pretty equal 22…Rf7 23.Re1 Rd8 24.e5 fxe5 25.dxe5 Rfd7 kingside pawn majorities are less dangerous than queenside ones, but with the Black B outside his pawn chain, this one could develop bite if I can get g2-g4/ f3-f5 in… 26.a5 [26.Ba3 is a more interesting try, with the idea of e5-e6-e7 with gain of tempo. I was afraid that after he plays d5-d4, Black can bring his bishop back to f7 and ensures my passed pawn never lands 26...Nc7 27.e6 Nxe6 28.Rxe6 d4 but once again the idea is refuted by Fritz 29.Re5 dxc3 30.bxc3 b5] 26…Nc7 27.Na4 Ne6

28.Nc5? Played quickly, and without calculation, presuming he would have to swap knights28…Rxd6 but of course he doesn’t.. 29.Nxb7 R6d7 30.Nxd8 Rxd8 in theory this is an equal swap; in practice the rook will be no match for Bishop and Knight 31.Kf2?and especially not when I throw another pawn at him [31.Rad1 Rb8 32.Rd2 Rb5 33.g3 Rxa5 34.f4 Nc5 35.Kg2 Rb5 36.e6 Kf8 37.f5 Ke7 38.g4 Nd3 39.Ra1 a5 is also pretty comfortable for Black] 31…Rb8 32.Kg3 Rxb2 33.Rab1 Rxb1 …Rb5 is even stronger 34.Rxb1 Bb5! shutting the door on the Rook, which now has no way in 35.f4 g6 36.Kf3 Kf7 37.g4 h6 ..Nd4+ is a lot stronger, supporting the Bb5 and allowing the c-pawn to roll 38.h4 a6 39.Ke3 Nc5 40.Kd4 Ne4 41.Rg1 [41.Rxb5 would be a desperate attempt to bluff, which could work in time pressure (although with increments being standard in weekend tournaments, nobody really gets into time trouble any more) 41...cxb5 42.Kxd5 Nf2 43.g5 hxg5 44.fxg5 Ke7 45.Kc5 Ne4+ 46.Kb6 b4 47.Kxa6 b3–+] 41…Ke6 42.h5 c5+–+ 43.Ke3 gxh5 44.gxh5 Kf5 45.Rg6 d4+ 46.Kf3 d3 47.Rg1 d2 48.e6 Nc3 White resigned. Moral of the story? One hasty move (28) can cost you a game 0–1

Christmas Blitz

The Rathmines Annual Blitz tournament will take place in the club on Thursday, 20th December, 2012, at 8pm.  All members welcome.  Free entry.  As usual, it´s sure to be great fun with generous prizes of wine, chocs, etc. up for grabs for players of all standards.  Note that this will be the last club night of the year, as we will be shut right through the Xmas/New Year period. I hope to see you there!

 

Kind regards,

 

Michael Kennedy

President, Rathmines Chess Club

Kieran Cranny Blitz Grand Prix

Standings after Round 1, 9-Aug-12:

Place	Name	Loc	Score
1-2	Skrzypnik, Tomasz	1890	7.5
	Fagan, Leon	1881	7.5
3	Burns, John	1795	7
4-5	Goralski, Lukasz	1757	6
	Nikrow, Shahram	1352	6
6-9	Bermingham, Tony	1819	4
	Gaffney, John	1449	4
	Butler, Tom	1058	4
	Lynch, Peter	1553	4
10-12	Collins, Kevin	1100	3
	Byrne, Ciaran	1231	3
	White, Adrian	1295	3
13	Maher, John	1347	2
14-15	Scott, Kevin	1000	1
	Kennedy, Michael	1799	1

A.G.M. on Thursday 6th September 2012

The Annual General Meeting of Rathmines Chess Club is to be held at the Club Rooms on Thursday 6th September 2012 at 8pm.
All members are invited to attend.
Any member wishing to propose a motion or matter for discussion should send them by e-mail to the Secretary, Andrew McGrath, at apm62@unison.ie by Saturday 1st September 2012.
Any member interested in joining the Committee should contact the Secretary.

Michael Kennedy
President