Category Archives: Games

Tablebase revelations

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Sean Coffey

Last weekend, Lichess announced a new partial 8-piece tablebase “Op1”, containing all positions in which at least one pair of opposing pawns face each other on the same file. The tablebase can be searched on line using the Lichess analysis … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, News | Leave a comment

Sligo Masters 2026

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Sean Coffey

The annual Sligo Spring Tournament has expanded even further this year to a Sligo Chess and Culture Festival, comprising a five-section Weekender, a 9-round Open in which norms might be possible, a rapid and a blitz, as well as various … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Sligo Spring Tournament, Tournaments | Leave a comment

1950 Irish Championship, Belfast

Posted on November 7, 2025 by David McAlister

We previously published reports on the 1949 and 1951 Irish Championships, and have now compiled a full report on the Championship in the middle. The group photograph above, unfortunately missing a few participants including the winner, is one of several … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Irish championships, Photos | Leave a comment

Cork Masters 2025

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Sean Coffey

The Cork Congress took place last weekend, in the Clayton Hotel Cork City, a new venue. A total of 177 players competed over three sections, and there was a Blitz on Saturday, with 57 players. Games from Cork Congresses have … Continue reading →

Posted in Cork Congresses, Games, Tournaments | Leave a comment

Gonzaga Masters 2025

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Sean Coffey

The 20th Gonzaga Charity Classic took place over the weekend of January 17-19, 2025. A total of 187 players took part, spread over four sections. A report on the Masters section has been added to the Tournament pages here. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Gonzaga Classics, Tournaments | Leave a comment

Austin Bourke: Margate 1935

Posted on September 25, 2025 by David McAlister

From 1935 to 1939 the Kent County Chess Association staged five Congresses at or near Easter, until the Second World War put an end to the series. Many of the elite players of the period played in the Premier section, … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Players, Simuls, Tournaments | Leave a comment

Austin Bourke: First Steps

Posted on September 25, 2025 by David McAlister

Bourke, Patrick Martin Austin (1913–95), meteorologist and historian, was born 10 May 1913 in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, second son of Patrick M. Bourke, stationmaster, and Clare Bourke (née O’Sullivan). He was educated at Mount Sion CBS, Waterford, and UCC, where he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Players, Simuls, Tournaments | 2 Comments

Two small miracles

Posted on September 17, 2025 by David McAlister

Philidor Cup, Hyères 1928 A total of 45 games were played in the tournament but unfortunately we have so far succeeded in finding only one brilliant game from the 2nd round, when M. Duchamp crushed the last player E.H. Smith. … Continue reading →

Posted in Analysis, Games, Players, Tournaments | Leave a comment

De Búrca or Cranston again, and other Warsaw reverberations

Posted on August 30, 2025 by David McAlister

“At the time I was 22 years old and easily the youngest member of the Irish team. Cranston, Creevey and O’Hanlon were already veterans of the chess-board; so that Ireland’s team had the doubtful distinction of being the oldest, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Analysis, Games, Players, Tournaments | Leave a comment

Sonja Graf – Part 4: A Bewitching Visit to Cork

Posted on August 22, 2025 by David McAlister

The Evening Echo for Saturday 9th February 1935 gave Sonja Graf the big build-up, with some impressive evidence to back it up. TO VISIT CORK. FRAULEIN SONJA GRAF. Up to recently, Fraulein Wally Henschel (Hamburg) was the sole, and none … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Players, Simuls | Leave a comment