The inaugural Drogheda Super Rapid 2K24 KlimaX was held recently over Christmas as the last event of the year from the 28th to the 29th of December in the ABCD Bridge Centre, Drogheda. The event is the brainchild of club member Krzysztof Nowak and is (to our knowledge) the first multi-day rapid event in the country in recent memory.
The format consisted of a 15-round Swiss, FIDE rated, over two days with a time control of 20+2. For such an endurance event was a large prize fund of €2500 to match as well as fantastic wooden chess trophies (pictured). The event also saw generous sponsorship from Greg's Garage Ashbourne and MyPainter. To complement this was the excellent surroundings of the ABCD Bridge Centre.
In total there was a great attendance for the inaugural event, with 75 entrants participating in the marathon. The field was a strong one with 7 titled players (1 IM, 2 FMs, 1 WFM, and 3 CMs) as well as numerous 1900+ players. Players from a wide range of federations were present, including Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, and, of course, Ireland.
According to the game statistics there were 537 games played with 212 wins for white, 245 wins for black, 77 draws, and 3 forfeits. The short increment likely contributed to the high number of decisive games. However, it also enabled the rounds to run precisely to schedule, which players appreciated.
The Super Rapid also introduced a novel mini-game that participants could partake in after their game was finished or between rounds. For the chance to win a DGT-3000 chess clock, each player could play a game of Puzzle Rush with the highest score winning. This entertaining side event proved to be very popular, with nearly every entrant choosing to participate at some point. See the winners below!
Live Boards
The Drogheda Super Rapid 2K24 KlimaX broadcasted the event live using 20 DGT e-Boards. These broadcasts are available on DGT LiveChess Cloud and lichess.org and can be viewed via the Drogheda Super Rapid 2K24 Live Board page.
Photography
(Above) Action from Round 15. (Below) Tense finish between CM Shane Melaugh and Mikhailo Kapechun. See game here.
Prize Winners
Main Prizes
1st (€800): FM Oleg Artemenko - 13.5/15.
2nd (€500): FM Kavin Venkatesan (St. Benildus) - 12/15.
3rd (€350): CM Jacob Flynn (Malahide) - 12/15.
4th (€200): IM David Fitzsimons (Elm Mount) - 11.5/15.
Joint 5th & Best Woman (€150): WFM Hong Nhung Nguyen - 10/15.
Joint 5th (€75) CM Andrey A Ivanov (Malahide) - 10/15.
Additional Prizes
Best Woman (Untitled) (€75): Emmanuelle Jegasuthan (Cork) - 6.5/15.
Grading Prize (€100 & Pawn Key Chain): (1865 - 1701 Rating) Korneliusz Bartczak (Limerick) - 9/15.
Grading Prize (€100 & Pawn Key Chain): (1700 - 1601 Rating) Ayaansh Mulukutla (KoÉ/Rathmines) - 9/15.
Grading Prize (€75 & Pawn Key Chain): (≤ 1600 Rating) Thomas Syms (Elm Mount) - 7.5/15.
Grading Prize (€75 & Pawn Key Chain): (Unrated) Peter Harmon (Drogheda) - 7.5/15.
Pawn Key Chains for Youngest Players - Born 2014 - 2015: Murray Liu (Blanchardstown), Saiansh Biswal, Aken Pinitha Palihawadana (Raharney), Emmanuelle Jegasuthan (Cork), Daniel Afanasiev Elioutin, Michael Afanasiev Elioutin, Erica Bermingham (KoÉ/Rathmines) & Kishan Pradeep Kumar (Drogheda)
Chess Set for Youngest Participant: Agasthya Kunder (Drogheda)
Pawn Key Chain for First Entrant: Vitaliy Salmin
Puzzle Rush Winners
Each band carried a prize of a DGT3000 chess clock for the highest score.
≥ 1851 Rating: Kavin Venkatesan (St. Benildus) - 40
1850 - 1676 Rating: Korneliusz Bartczak (Limerick) - 36
1675 - 1501 Rating: Duan Yinan (Master Chess Club) - 27
≤ 1500 Rating: Daniel Elioutin Afanasaniev - 25 (On tie-break*)
*First tie-break was rating of puzzle of first mistake. Both Daniel Elioutin Afanasaniev and Peter Harmon scored 25. However Peter's 1st mistake was on a puzzle rated 1052 while Daniel's 1st mistake was on a puzzle rated 1424.
Acknowledgements
The Drogheda Chess Club would like to thank all those who helped organise and run the event, in particular Chief Organiser Krzysztof Nowak and Chief Arbiter Henry Williams. In addition, we'd like to thank everyone who helped set up and worked behind the scenes, including Frank Pentony, Anita Turcin, Sean Cummins and all the Drogheda Chess Club organising committee. We'd like to thank our hosts, the ABCD Bridge Centre, for providing a wonderful venue. We'd like to thank all our sponsors. Finally we'd like to thank the players for attending.
