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The inaugural Raharney Welcome Tour FIDE Rapid for the recently formed Raharney Chess Club was held last Saturday, the 15th of February. The event was organised by club founder Krzysztof Nowak.

The format consisted of a 7-round Swiss, FIDE rated Open with a time control of 20+2, similar to the Drogheda Super Rapid 2K24 KlimaX held last Christmas. The prize fund consisted of €600 as well as fantastic wooden chess trophies (pictured).

To complement this was the excellent surroundings of the The Third Place.

In total there was a great attendance for the inaugural event, with 45 entrants participating. The field had well known faces like FM Colm Daly and Jonathan O'Connor as well as numerous 1800+ players, both local and from a far. Players from a wide range of federations were present, including India, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Ukraine, and Ireland.

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Photography

(Above top & bottom) The playing room of the The Third Place. (Above right) Post-game Analysis Room.

(Above) Action from Round 6

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Prize Winners

Main Prizes

1st (€200): Sean Cummins (Drogheda) - 6/7.

Joint 2nd (€85): FM Colm Daly (UCD) - 5.5/7.

Joint 2nd (€85): Jonathan O'Connor (Dublin) - 5.5/7.

Joint 2nd (€85): Nikolay Karnaukh (Drogheda) - 5.5/7.

Final Standings

Prize Winners pictured with organiser and arbiter Krzysztof Nowak: Sean Cummins (top left), FM Colm Daly (top right), Jonathan O'Connor (bottom left), Nikolay Karnaukh (bottom right)

Best Woman (€40 & Pawn Key Chain): Nemhain Doolin (Moate Juniors Chess Club) - 4.5/7.

Grading Prize (€40 & Pawn Key Chain): (1800 - 1601 Rating) Mert Can Ozarpaci - 5/7.

Grading Prize (€40 & Pawn Key Chain): (1600 - 1400 Rating) Stefan Kolev (TCD) - 4.5/7.

Grading Prize (€40 & Pawn Key Chain): (Unrated) Emir Abiltarov - 4/7.

Prize Winners pictured with organiser and arbiter Krzysztof Nowak: Nemhain Doolin (top left), Mert Can Ozarpaci (top right), Stefan Kolev (bottom left), Emir Abiltarov (bottom right)

Additional Prizes

Chess Set for Youngest Participant: Chirag Senthilnathan

King Key Chain for Oldest Entrant: Jacek Nowak

Pawn Key Chain for First Entrant: Stephen McGroggan

Prize Winners pictured with organiser and arbiter Krzysztof Nowak: Chirag Senthilnathan (left), Jacek Nowak (middle), Stephen McGroggan (right)

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Acknowledgements

The Raharney Chess Club would like to thank all those who helped organise and run the event, in particular Chief Organiser and Arbiter Krzysztof Nowak. In addition, we'd like to thank everyone who helped set up and worked behind the scenes. We'd like to thank our hosts, the The Third Place, for providing a wonderful venue and Shay Murtagh for creating it. Finally we'd like to thank the players for attending.