Author Archives: David McAlister

P.J. Laracy, Philip Baker and the 1927 Leinster Championship

Posted on May 7, 2012 by David McAlister

When compiling the Roll of Honour for the Leinster Championship, there was a particularly tricky decision to make about the 1927 renewal. There was evidence pointing towards two possible candidates. They were Philip Baker, champion the previous year (and also … Continue reading →

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Leinster Championships centenary

Posted on May 5, 2012 by David McAlister

The Leinster Championships are being held over the May Bank Holiday weekend, the usual slot for the Malahide Millennium Tournament. In fact these two tournaments have amalgamated this year, and pre-event it was being anticipated that the quality and quantity … Continue reading →

Posted in Leinster championships, Tournaments | 1 Comment

GM Michael Stean on the BBC

Posted on April 27, 2012 by David McAlister

On Monday 23rd April BBC Northern Ireland started a series of half-hour programmes entitled “Glory Days”. These are compilations of sporting events taken from the BBC NI archives and the first episode focused on the 1970s. Towards the end (about … Continue reading →

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National Club Championship

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McAlister

The 2012 National Club Championship is being played on the last weekend of April. We have added a new page within our Team events section detailing the winners of the NCC since its inception in 1954. Records are far from … Continue reading →

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Eugene O’Hare and Bobby Fischer

Posted on March 27, 2012 by David McAlister

Colin Fenton has brought to my attention this tribute to Eugene O’Hare from the Derry Journal. It referred to Eugene as “an internationally known chess player who once played against the late chess master, Bobby Fisher[sic].” There is no game … Continue reading →

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Korchnoi and the car

Posted on February 11, 2012 by David McAlister

On a cold dark early-February night in 1981 sometime around midnight I was leaving the Drumsill House Hotel in Armagh after playing a game of chess. As I was walking through the hotel car park I saw in the distance … Continue reading →

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O’Hanlon, Cox and the female impersonator

Posted on November 18, 2011 by David McAlister

John (“J.J.”) O’Hanlon won the Irish championship nine times between 1913 and 1940. His most significant international successes were at Broadstairs 1922 where he tied with the future World Champion Max Euwe (winning their individual encounter) and Hyѐres 1928 where he tied with … Continue reading →

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Lilienthal in Dublin

Posted on November 3, 2011 by David McAlister

Andor Lilienthal died last year at the age of 99. At the time Chessbase published this fine tribute to him. Featured in that article is Lilienthal’s famous queen sacrifice victory over Capablanca, played at Hastings on the 1st January 1935. Coincidentally earlier … Continue reading →

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Ulster Championship 2011

Posted on September 22, 2011 by David McAlister

The 2011 Ulster Championship featured two innovations. The event was FIDE-rated and time increments were used for the first time in any Ulster tournament. Tournament reports have been posted on the Championship itself (confined to players rated over 1700) won … Continue reading →

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Ulster Championship 2002

Posted on July 31, 2011 by David McAlister

The plan here at IRLchess is to present as much information as possible about as many Irish chess tournaments as possible (and a bit more besides). Sean suggested to me that the Ulster Championship played 27-30 December 2002 would be … Continue reading →

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