The annual Leinster Chess Championships took place over the Christmas period in “An Oige”, home of the Phibsborough Chess Club. Over 70 players took part competing in four different playing Sections with no less than 13 different nationalities represented in the championships, including players from Poland, Mongolia, Cuba, the Congo, Bosnia, Russia and Bulgaria.

The very competitive Masters Section was contested by 17 players, including Czech Grandmaster Jan Votava, three of Ireland’s International Masters, Mark Quinn, Sam Collins and Gavin Wall, plus FIDE Master and 4 times Irish Senior Champion, Colm Daly. The Masters was eventually won by 18 year old Trinity College student, Karl McPhillips from Kilkenny, on tie break from Grand Master Jan Votava, with both players obtaining a score of 4.5/6. Karl clinched the title with a hard fought final round victory over 15 year old David Fitzsimons, who won a grading prize with a score of 3.5/6 which included a draw with Mark Quinn IM. On his way to winning the tournament, Karl McPhillips recorded a victory over Sam Collins IM and a draw with Mark Quinn IM.

Sam Collins IM (3rd Place), John Redmond (4th) and Bernard Palmer (Grading Prize) were the other prize winners in the Masters Section. The youngest competitor in the Section, 14 year old Sam Osborne performed well above his seeding, with his results including a draw against International Master Gavin Wall.

The Major Section was contested by 20 players and was won outright by the top seed, Dublin-based Russian, Semyon Mkrtchyan, with a score of 5.5/6. Ray O Rourke, Peter D. Jackson and Lukasz Goralski finished 2nd–4th respectively with scores of 4/6. Rory Delaney, Peter J. Hayes and David Baird won grading prizes.

The Challengers Section was contested by 22 players and was won by Galway based Cuban Yoel Ferrer, on tie break from Ger Reilly from St. Benildus College, with both players scoring 5/6. There was a five players tie for third place on 4/6. The players were Andrew Rodger, Patrick McKillen, David Cormican, Ronan Sweeney and John Hensey.

The Junior Section was contested by 15 players and was won by 13 year old Alasdair Walsh from Rathmines Chess Club who won the section outright with five wins and just one draw over the six rounds. Another member of the St. Benildus Chess Club, 12 year old Stephen Cunningham finished in the runners up position with Jobstown Chess Club’s Wayne Murphy in 3rd position. Kevin Fitzpatrick and youngsters Christopher Taylor, Adam Blunden and Mark Berney also won prizes in the Junior Section.

Pictured below are the 4 section winners with Tony Gregory T.D., who presented the prizes at the tournament. (From left Semyon Mkrtchyan, Alasdair Walsh, Yoel Ferrer, Tony Gregory T.D. and Karl McPhillips, Leinster Chess Champion for 2006).

Photographs of each of the winners receiving their individual prizes.

Alasdair Walsh and Joel Ferrer
Semyon Mkrtchyan and Karl McPhillips