This page covers simuls by visiting players, i.e., by players who were not resident in Ireland at the time of the simul. Simuls by local players are listed on the Local simuls page.
1865
William Steinitz, (Blindfold), +3 =0 -0.
—, (Blindfold), +4 =1 -0. Wins v. G. F. [George Frith] Barry, Twigg.
1879
Johannes Hermann Zukertort, (Blindfold), 1879.01.31-02.01, Dublin (Leinster Hall, 35 Molesworth Street), +8 =3 -1. Loss v. M. S. Woollett. Draws v. Sir John Blunden, Major Creagh, C. Tuthill. Wins v. J. Cairns, Lord Randolph Churchill MP, R. Goodbody, Charles Lewis, Captain Melhado, Hon. Horace C. Plunkett, Captain Wallace.
—, 1879.02.01, Dublin (Dublin C.C.), played 16, including odds games.
—, (Blindfold), 1879.02.18, Dublin (Grosvenor Hotel). +2 =0 -1. Loss v. Hon. Horace C. Plunkett. Wins v. E. F. Gerahty, C. Tuthill.
—, 1879.02.19, Dublin (Grosvenor Hotel). Two rounds v. seven players. +9 =4 -1. Lost and drew v. C. Tuthill, drew twice v. Captain Melhado, won and drew v W. H. S. Monck, won twice v. Hon. Horace C. Plunkett, St. John Blacker, Major Shaw, M. S. Woollett.
—, (Blindfold), 1879.03.07, Dublin (Earlsfort Terrace ice skating rink). Played 10. +5 =3 -2 or +5 +2 -1.
1881
William Steinitz, (Consultation), 1881.01.12, Dublin (Dublin C.C.), +2 =1 -0. Drew v. Sir John Blunden / Hunt / Rev. George Salmon. Won v. Captain Wallace / W. H. S. Monck, and C. Tuthill / J. D. [John Drew] Roberts.
—, (Blindfold consultation), 1881.01.13, Dublin (Molesworth Hall), +2 =1 -1. Lost v. Hunt/ C. Tuthill / Rev. George Salmon. Drew v. J. B. Pim / J. D. Roberts / W. R. Roberts. Won v. Cairns / G. D. Soffe / Captain Wallace, and Sir John Blunden / W. H. S. Monck / M. S. Woollett.
—, 1881.01.14, Dublin (Molesworth Hall), +11 =4 -1. Lost v. Hon. Horace C. Plunkett. Drew v. John Murphy (later Morphy?), J. D. Roberts, C. Tuthill, Captain Wallace. Won v. Cudmore, Hunt, W. H. S. Monck, R. Nolan, Michael Roberts, Dr. Stack, H. White, M. S. Woollett (and Alfred S. Peake?).
1886
Joseph Henry Blackburne (Blindfold), 1886.09.25, Belfast (Queen’s College), +5 =2 -1. Loss v. Ernest L. Harvey. Draws v. Hill, Mill. Wins v. Godwin, Nicholls, Palmer (by adjudication), Adrian S. Peake, Tennant (by adjudication).
1903
Joseph Henry Blackburne, 1903.09.12, Dublin (Sackville C.C.). +17 =8 -1. Win v. Francis Sheehy-Skeffington.
—, (Blindfold), 1903.09.16, Dublin. +5 =1-0.
1926
Eugene Alexandrovich Znosko-Borovsky, 1926.12.03, Armagh (Armagh C.C.). +20 =0 -2.
—, (Consultation), 1926.12.07, Limerick (Limerick C.C.). +3 =0 -0.
—, 1926.12.08, Limerick (Limerick C.C.). +14 =1 -0.
1935
Andor Lilienthal, 1935.01.08, Dublin (T.C.D.). +28 =10 -7. Losses v. B.St.J. Galvin, W. Hassell, J. Baker, A. Bourke, T.P. Kane, B. O’Sullivan, P. Wahlrab.
1938
Alexander Alekhine, 1938.09.14, Dublin (Regent House, T.C.D.). +31 =3 -1. Loss v. C.J. Barry (Sackville). Draws v. P.J. Laracy (Dublin), R.T. Varian (Blackrock), 10-year-old Jackie Vard (Dublin).
—, 1938.09.15, Dublin (Regent House, T.C.D.). +28 =7. Draws v. T. Cox, Taylor A. Vard, W. Nash (Athlone), Vera Luke (Dublin), J. Reynolds (Dublin), H. Hartford (Rathmines), T.G. Cranston (Dublin).
—, 1938.09.17, Belfast. +34 =0 -0.
1949
Imre König, 1949.05.13, Dublin (Trinity College). +17 =10 -0. Draws v. J.T. Gerrard, T. Fitzgerald, M. Byrne, J.J. Doyle, D.G. Jackson, E. Martin, J. Geary, M. Sheehan, G.A. Hewson, Father Weymes.
—, 1949.05.14, Dublin (Trinity College). +18 =7 -2. Losses v. B. O’Sullivan, T. Tormey. Draws v. J.K. Watson, J. Casey, D. O’Sullivan, P.A. Duignan, Dr A.A. Luce, C.J. Barry, M. Ryan.
1951
Robert G. Wade, 1951.08.04, Dublin (Belgrove Schools, Clontarf) (alternate colours). +18 =1 -5. Losses v. Austin Bourke, P. Dowdall, P. A. (Paddy) Duignan, D. G. Jackson, F. G. H. Nicholson. Draw v. K. (Ken?) O’Riordan.
Imre König, series ending 3rd November 1951, Dublin (Dublin, Rathmines, T.C.D. and Clontarf C.C.s). + more than 60, =5, -1.
—, 1951.10.31, Dublin (Rathmines C.C.). +14 =1 -1. Loss v. C. Parker Glorney. Draw v. C.J. Barry.
—, 1951.11.02, Dublin (Dublin C.C.). +12 =2 -0. Draws v. C.J. Barry, T.G. Cranston.
—, 1951.11.03, Clontarf. +17 =2 -0. Draws v. B. Canton, T. Wardlaw.
1954
Robert G. Wade, 1954.05.08, Dundalk. Results unknown.
—,1954.05.08, Dublin (Rathmines C.C.). +13 =2 -2. Losses v. L.H. Kerney, L. Wynne. Draws v. Major Griffiths, T. McDermott.
Victor Soultanbéieff, 1954.05.09, Dublin (Clontarf C.C.). +14 =1 -4. Losses v. R.D. Dynan, T. McDermott, Jim Sadlier, J.J. Walsh. Draw v. F. Maher.
1955
Albéric O’Kelly de Galway, date unknown, Arklow. +20 =1 -1. Loss v. R. Kelly, draw v. E. W. McCarthy.
—, date unknown, Dundalk. +16 =0 -0.
—, date unknown, Derry. +20 =1 -1.
—, date unknown, Dublin. +21 =4 -1.
—, (clock simul), date unknown, Clontarf C.C.. +7 =0 -0.
Ossip Bernstein, date unknown, Cork. +17 =2 -1. Loss v. D. Mockler, draws v. C. O’Leary, J. F. O’Halloran.
—, date unknown, Dublin. +22 =2 -5.
T. D. van Scheltinga, date unknown, Kilfinnane. +32 =1 -0.
—, date unknown, Galway. +22 =1 -0.
1962
Paul Keres, 1962.12.02, Dublin (T.C.D.). +22 =2 -1. Loss v. Tony Dennehy (Dublin). Draws with Eamon Keogh (Eoghan Ruadh), Frank McMahon (UCD). Wins v. Paul Cassidy, Ray Cassidy.
1969
Robert Hübner, 1969.09, Dublin (Graduates’ Club, Fitzwilliam Lane). +15 = 3 -0. Draws with C. Egan (Rathmines), Gerry McCurdy (Queen’s University, Belfast), S. Loftus (Kevin Barry).
1971
Svetozar Gligorić, 1971.02.09(?), Cork. +15 =4 -0.
—, 1971.02.10(?), Wexford. +21 =1 -0. Draw v. Tony Byrne.
—, 1971.02.11, Dublin (Ierne C.C., 12 Parnell Square). +23 =3 -0. Draws v. R. Elwood (T.C.D.), J. Lacy (Kevin Barry), Jim Prendiville (St. Columba’s). Win v. Denis Dempsey.
—, 1971.02.12, Dublin (Newman House, 86 St. Stephen’s Green). +24 =4 -2. Losses v. David Cox (U.C.D.), Tony Dennehy (Dublin). Draws v. Paul Cassidy (St. Columba’s), Dorren O’Siochru (Collegians), Dónal Garvey (St. Columba’s), Kevin Ryan.
1972
Max Euwe, 1972.02.04, Dublin (Newman House, 86 St. Stephen’s Green). +11=4 -1. Loss v. Pádraig Ó Briain (Rathmines). Draws v. Gordon Barry (Collegians), David Cox (U.C.D.), Ken O’Riordan (Collegians), Mark Poppin (Dublin). Win v. John Fagan.
—, (21 boards, of which 1 consultation), 1972.02.05, Dublin (Ierne C.C., 12 Parnell Square). +19 =1 -1. Loss v. Bernard Kernan / John Kennedy / Mark Poppin (Dublin) (consultation). Draw v. Dorren O’Siochru.
1977
Raymond Keene 1977.02.28, Dublin (Trinity College). +47 =3 -3. Losses to Tim Murphy (TCD), Tony Dennehy (Collegians), Rolande J. Anderson (Portmarnock). Draws with Seán Terry (Dublin), Bernard Palmer (Dublin), J. Wallace (TCD).
—, 1977.03.01, Malahide (Grove Hotel), +47 =7 -0. Draws with Martin O’Malley (Portmarnock), Dorren O Siochru (Collegians), Brian Woods (Irish Life), Denis Kelliher (Portmarnock), Seán Terry (Dublin), Peter McGrath (Portmarnock) and 10 year-old Michael O Siochru (Sannaideoirí).
—, 1977.03.02, Dundrum (Dundrum Family Recreation Centre, Ballinteer), +35 =5 -1. Loss to “local player” John Roberts. Draws with Jack Killane (Rathmines), Gay Martin (Yellow House), E. Hayes (Aer Lingus) and 2 others.
1979
George Botterill, 1979.04.18, Dublin (Samuel Beckett Hall, T.C.D.). +27 =6 -11.
1981
Viktor Korchnoi, 1981.02.03, Armagh (Drumsill House Hotel). +35 =4 -1. Loss v. Frank Coll (Armagh). Draws v. Tom Clarke, David Blair, Stephen McCrea (all Fisherwick), J. Hegarty (Derry). Win v. David McAlister.
—, 1981.02.04, Newtownards (Town Hall). +29 =3 -0. Draws v. Ray Devenney, John Strawbridge, D. Murray. {But see the comments below by Damien Artt}
—, 1981.02.05, Dublin (Royal Dublin Hotel, O’Connell Street). +23 =3 -4. Losses v. Kevin McHugh (Dean’s Grange), John Delaney (Raheny), Seán Coffey (Dundrum), Eddie O’Reilly (Kevin Barry). Draws v. Paul Cassidy (Dublin), Pat Dillon (Eoghan Ruadh), Tony Duffy (Phibsboro). Win v. Jonathan O’Connor (Dublin).
1985
John Nunn, 1985.03.23, Belfast (Fords C.C.). +22 =6 -2. Losses v. John Orchin (C.I.Y.M.S), James Stewart (Fisherwick).
1993
Alexei Shirov, 1993.06.21, Dublin (T.C.D.). Played ~30. Loss to Stephen Brady.
1998
Danny King, 1998.04.22, Dublin (D.I.T., Kevin Street). Played ~30.
2011
Nigel Short, 2011.02.22, Dublin (Wynn’s Hotel, O’Connell Street). +26 = 4 -0. Draws v. Pierce Dunne, William Ffrench, Brian Gallagher, Tony Scannell. Wins v. Killian Delaney, Michael Kennedy, Ian Maloney.
—, 2011.02.23, Cork (Gresham Metropole Hotel, MacCurtain Street). +23 =3 -0. Draw v. Michael Bradley. Win v. Keegan O’Mahoney.
Gawain Jones, Vlad Jianu, (alternate move), 2011.05.19, Ennis (O’Keeffe’s pub). + unknown =0 -0.
Gawain Jones, 2011.09.29, Galway (Galway Bridge Club). +17 =1 -0. Draw v. Oissine Murphy.
Veselin Topalov, 2011.10.03, clock simul, Dublin (Clarence Hotel, Wellington Quay) v. Ireland. +1 =2 -1. Loss v. Alexander Baburin, draws v. Sam Collins, Alex Lopez, win v. Mark Quinn.
2012
Nigel Short, 2012.02.14, Dublin (Wynn’s Hotel, O’Connell Street). +25(?) =0 -0. Win v. Conor Pender.
—, 2012.02.15, Ennis (Auburn Lodge). +25 =3 -0. Draws v. John Cormican (Galway), James Danaher (Shannon), Rory Quinn (Ennis). Win v. Gary O’Grady.
Constantin Ionescu, 2012.02.16, Limerick (St. Michael’s Sporting Club, Cecil Street Lr.), +16 =2 -0. Draws with David Chin-Shong, Diana Mirza.
Andrei Istratescu, 2012.02.21, Limerick (St. Michael’s Sporting Club, Cecil Street Lr.), +23 =1 -0. Draw with Diana Mirza.
Sources:
Tony Foley, Steinitz’s Dublin blindfold display, Ficheall blog, 2nd July 2010.
Tim Harding, Chess Mail web pages, “Zukertort’s visit to Dublin, January to March 1879″.
—, Chess Mail web pages, “Steinitz in Dublin, January 1881″.
David McAlister, “The Time Traveller – Blackburne Simultaneous Exhibition”, Ulster Chess Union web pages.
BCM 1927 p. 5 (re Znosko-Borovsky 1926).
Irish Independent, 1st January 1935, p. 14, 8th January 1935, p. 11 & p. 12 and 9th January 1935, p. 14. Irish Press, 7th January 1935, pp. 8 and 9th January 1935, p. 8 (re Lilienthal 1935).
David McAlister, The Time Traveller: “Alexander Alekhine: A World Champion in Belfast”, September 2001. Irish Times, 15th September 1938, p.8, Irish Press 16th September 1938, p.18 (re Alekhine 1938)
Irish Press 26th May 1949, p. 8, 14th June 1949, pp. 7 and 15th June 1949, p. 7. Irish Independent 14th June 1949 pp. 5 & p. 7 and 15th June 1949 p. 7 (re König 1949).
Irish Times, 6th August 1951 p. 7 (re Wade 1951).
Irish Independent 1st November 1951, p. 10 and 3rd November 1951 p. 9. Sunday Independent 4th November 1951 p.7. Irish Times 5th November 1951 p. 3 (re König 1951).
David McAlister, The Time Traveller: “The first Irish Club Championship: An Ulster perspective”, date unknown (re Wade 1954).
Irish Times, 10th May 1954 p. 8 (re Wade (Rathmines) 1954, Soultanbéieff 1954).
CHESS, June 18th, 1955, p. 372 (re O’Kelly, Bernstein, van Scheltinga).
A. A. Luce, A History of Dublin Chess Club (1965), p. 47. Irish Independent, 3rd December 1962 p. 13. Irish Press, 28th November 1962 p. 16, 3rd December 1962 p. 1 and p. 4. (re Keres 1962).
Irish Times, 3rd September 1969 p. 11 (re Hübner 1969).
Irish Independent, February 1971; Irish Times, 10th February 1971 p. 9, 12th February 1971 p. 19, 13th February 1971 p. 15, 26th February 1971 p. 12 (re Gligorić 1971).
Irish Times, 4th February 1972 p. 11, 5th February 1972 p. 13, 11th February 1972 p. 10.
Irish Independent, 27th February 1977 p. 2, 1st March 1977 p. 9, 5th March 1977 p. 8; Irish Press, 2nd March 1977 p. 14, 3rd March 1977 p.12, 4th March 1977 p. 10; Irish Times, 2nd March 1977 p. 20 (re Keene 1977).
Irish Times, 18th April 1979 p. 13, 25th April 1979 p. 14 (re Botterill 1979).
Sunday Independent 1st February 1981 p.12; 22nd February 1981 p. 3 & p. 14. Irish Times 4th February 1981 p. 8; 5th February 1981 p. 14; 6th February 1981 p. 7; 7th February 1981 p. 20. Irish Independent 10th February 1981 p.8. Newtownards Spectator 13th February 1981 p. 18 (re Korchnoi 1981).
Damian Artt, comments on this page, 20th and 21st February 2012 (re Korchnoi 1981).
Jonathan O’Connor, comment on this page, 9th March 2012 (re Korchnoi 1981).
Fiacla Fichille, vol. 2, no. 17, April 1985, p. 4 (re Nunn 1985).
Eric Bennett, comment on this page, 3rd October 2011 (re Shirov 1993, King 1998).
Jonathan O’Connor, ICU web pages, “Nigel Short dominates in Dublin simul”, 23rd February 2011.
Malcolm Pein, “Nigel Short in Ireland ahead of Bunratty Masters”, The Week In Chess, 25th February 2011.
Irish Chess Journal, May 2011, pp. 15-17 (re Short, Dublin and Cork, 2011).
Gawain Jones, Gawain Jones blog, Ennis Open: A success, 22nd May 2011.
Rory Quinn, Ennis C.C. blog, “Pictures from the simul in O Keeffes”, 26th May 2011.
Sue Maroroa, Gawain Jones blog, Galway Chess Congress, 1st October 2011.
Gawain Jones, Gawain Jones blog, Galway Congress – A repeat success!, 3rd October 2011.
ICU web pages, Clarence Hotel chosen as venue for Topalov vs Ireland”, 1st October 2011.
ICU web pages, “Live broadcasting of Topalov vs Team Ireland”, 2nd October 2011.
DiscussChess.com, Topalov vs Irish team, 2nd October 2011.
Chessdom.com, “Veselin Topalov against the Irish Men’s Team”, 3rd October 2011.
ICU web pages, Fantastic result by Irish team, 4th October 2011.
Mark Crowther, The Week in Chess, “Topalov Clock Simul in Dublin“, 4th October 2011.
ChessBase.com, Clock simul: Topalov vs the Irish national team, 5th October 2011.
ChessVibes.com, Topalov draws Irish Team in clock simul, 5th October 2011.
Dylan Loeb McLain, Ex-Champion Takes on National Team From Ireland, New York Times, 9th October 2011 p. A26.
LCU Blog, Nigel Short in Dublin 2012, 15th February 2012.
Rory Quinn, Ennis C.C. blog, Short simul a great success!, 16th February 2012.
Email from Gabriel Mirza, 8th March 2012 (re Ionescu, Istratescu 2012).
Last updated 8th May 2012.
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2 Simuls I know of as I moved bits in both of them
Shirov in Trinity College 21-Jun-93. About 30 boards (Stephen Brady won among others I think)
Danny King in DIT Kevin St. 22-Apr-1998. About 30 boards again, think a few draws against him
Thanks Eric, I’ve added those. I think I have a few issues of the ICJ from 1998, must look to see if the King event is mentioned.
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Hi Sean,
Michael Stean played two simuls in the late 70′s I think, One in Trinity and one in Dundrum. I’ll try and dig out some info. I have some older Irish chess Journals and “Ficheall Ficheal” that I’ll try and scan at some stage. I wonder if it is worth cnvasing some of the elder statesmen of Irish chess, who might have magazines etc.
The mag I think was called “Ficheall”
Hi Brendan,
I remember Stean’s visit to Dundrum; I think was probably 1976. On my scoresheet I wrote for the Event “Simul (by him)”, to the amusement of the Dundrum elders. (I lost.)
It would be very interesting to scan all the old Irish chess magazines and put them on line. I think the late 70′s edition was “Fiacla Fichille”. The National Library has quite a few issues, a gift of Kevin O’Connell I believe. The issues I saw were very hard to copy, unfortunately.
The records of Korchnoi’s simul losses in Newtownards in 1981 are incorrect. Korchnoi lost a number of games that night, including one to me.
Hi Damien
Thanks for the correction. Can you remember any of the other winners? Another player, now long retired from competitive chess, has also got in touch. He thought he might have beaten Korchnoi but admitted to being very unsure of this.
So it looks like I’ll have to do some more checking on this simul. Any former Newtownards players out there who might be able to help?
I recall at least 3 winners that night, and I think I recall a young lad by the name of Forsman being another winner.
Thanks again Damien. I wonder if Forsman is Des Forson.
Yes! That’s the name!
I played against Korchnoi in the Dublin simul. He destroyed me. It started out as 6.Bg5 Najdorf, but Korchnoi played 7.Qf3 instead of 7.f4 and after 7…h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Qxf6 gxf6 he ground me down in an opposite coloured bishop endgame. I remember asking Paul Delaney where I went wrong, and he couldn’t help me. Sadly, I have lost the scoresheet.
My other memory of the event was Korchnoi’s immense will to win. After I resigned, I asked him to sign his book “Chess is my Life”, and he was incredibly irritated that I should do so.
You are missing two important simultaneous. Alexine played here either in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The correspondence in relation to the visit is in the Dublin Chess Club which, as the then Librarian of that club, I had it for many years. I have now passed it to Jonathan O’Connor who will be able to confirm dates etc.
Dr Max Euwe, the ex World Champion, gave a simultaneous here in the late 1960s I think. I drew with him.
The best simultaneous player I met was Paul Keres. I lost to him in 90 moves during his visit here. As a matter of fact I missed a win in the endgame. There were only two players left- Ray Cassidy and myself- so we had to move instanter. I saw the winning move but had not time to think and chose another. C’est la vie!