Congratulations to the winners in this year’s Irish Junior Championships, held last weekend in Killiney: Conor O’Donnell (Gonzaga), U19; Diana Mirza (St. Michael’s), U16; Henry Li (Gonzaga), U14; Danny Dwyer (Blanchardstown), U12, and Con Kirby (Limerick), U10.
(I understand there was an under-8 championship as well, but have not seen any results posted.)
Though the top section had a small field, the overall participation was very healthy, with 105 players across the five sections. There were live boards for one game in each of the top four sections, plus one partial game from the U10 championship: see the playable games.
The diagram at right comes from a much earlier event, the U19 championship back in 1980, held in St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in Drumcondra (1st-2nd Keith Allen, John Kennedy (both Fisherwick)). This was one of the later rounds, I think, from board 2, and Kevin McHugh, playing Black, is about to play his 8th move against me. The Petroff is generally a very safe opening. But not always!
[Click to replay the full game.]
[Update, April 21, 2016: many thanks to Herbert Scarry, who has provided pairings and results for the U8 championship.]
There was 45 in the U-8s, won by reigning champion Arnold Kecskemeti.
Must get the results up online alright; an oversight.
Players in the U-10 and U-12 rapidplay on Sunday upped total junior numbers to a record 181.
We also had I think 28 in the parents’ and teachers’ tournament, won by Jonathan O’Connor (with queen odds when appropriate)