CRH Kilkenny Congress 2025

The 2025 Kilkenny Chess Congress marked the 47th edition of the event, and the third year in which it was generously sponsored by the CRH Group. This year’s congress attracted over 250 players across four sections: the Masters, the Major, the Stars Barred, and the Seniors (65+). The 65+ championship was a five-round FIDE-rated event, while the other three sections were six-round tournaments rated by the Irish Chess Union.

The Masters once again proved to be a phenomenally strong tournament. The field included eight grandmasters, six international masters, and seven additional titled players. It was likely the strongest Kilkenny Masters ever held—and also the largest—featuring a total of 44 competitors.

The Major section, open to players rated between 1550 and 1999, typically attracts around 80 participants. However, this was another exceptional year for the event, as, for the second time it surpassed the 100-player mark.

The Stars Barred event—open only to players rated under 1600—attracted nearly 80 competitors, all battling for the coveted title. The Over-65s section was the only FIDE-rated event of the weekend and featured five rounds instead of the usual six. Among the competitors was former Irish Champion and renowned international player Eamon Keogh, still going strong at 81 years of age. I hope to include a photograph of the great man later in this report.

Play began across all sections at 8 p.m. on Friday evening. As is typical in Swiss-system tournaments, the top seeds were paired against the lower-rated players in the opening round. In theory, if statistics ruled, every higher-rated player would emerge victorious. In practice, of course, chess has a way of defying expectations.

Fabien Libiszewski and Co. at the Kilkenny Masters

On Board 1 in the Masters, 12-year-old Ukrainian talent Dariy Kelbas was paired with the highest-rated grandmaster in the field, French star GM Sébastien Mazé. A long-time supporter of the Kilkenny event—and a former multiple-time winner—Mazé found himself pushed to the limit. After more than 100 moves, the game was finally agreed drawn by the 50-move rule.

Pictured left is Fabien Libiszewski GM from France at the start of round 2, the on-looker is none other afore-mentioned Sebastien, both seem to be enjoying the atmosphere of the Masters this year. Fabien had an expected win in round 1 against Ragnar Holm, the father of our visiting Norwiegian GM Kristian Holm, you can see that here.

Elsewhere, GM Alexander Baburin was also held to a draw on Board 12, while two of the top seeds suffered early upsets on the lower boards. Jamie Comley (1959) defeated Paul Wallace (2173), and Rudolf Tirziman (1954) claimed the full point against Daire McMahon (2115).

While there were a couple of draws in round 1 also, the majority of the top seeds safely made it through the dreaded first round.

After play concluded and while most players were enjoying the social side of the event, the draw for round 2 in the masters was being prepared, and it the top 3 boards looked like this;

1	Tarun Kanyamarala IM	1	Yuri Solodovnichenko GM	1
2	Fabien Libiszewski GM	1	Blair Connell	1
3	Mark Quinn IM	1	Kristian Holm GM	1

While the first 2 games were drawn, board 1 was a relatively short affair, but not board 2, Blair Conell, despite the almost 300 point difference in rating, reached a drawn rook and pawn ending and proved he could hold it, you can see that here. Our Norwegian GM visitor proved too strong for Mark Quinn IM on board 3 which can be viewed here.

In this round Simon Williams GM (AKA The Ginger GM) also marched on to reach 2/2 at the expense of Stephen Jessell FM, while Matthew Turner did the same. His round 2 opponent was Julian Groetzbach, a young FM from Germany, he will be pictured below later.

Trisha Kanyamarala WFM scored her second full point by beating the French GM Eloi Relange, and this win would earn her a place on a live board against another GM in round 3, Matthew Turner. Matthew and Trisha have ended up playing each other quite a few times in the past few years, which shows how consistently Trisha performs in open events.

The live boards for round 3 looked like this:

1	Kristian Holm GM	2	Kevin Terrieux IM	2
2	Trisha Kanyamarala WIM	2	Matthew Turner GM	2
3	Simon Williams GM	2	Thibault Fantinel IM	2

Funnily enough, these were the only players on 2 / 2 followed by 7 players on 1.5. Of these 7 players, all were internationally titled with 2 exceptions, Blair Connell and Shane Melaugh, both up there with some very illustrious company.

The Ginger GM at his first Kilkenny Masters

Pictured right is the famous Ginger GM himself, appearing in his first ever Kilkenny Masters. Simon is no stranger to chess events in Ireland for for some reason or another, he's never managed to play in Kilkenny before now. He famously won the 2006 Bunratty Masters at his first attempt, could he do the same for the Kilkenny Masters 19 years later? (No doubt, if he doesn't, I'll get the blame for writing his as he played his round 3 game!)

In round 3, as you can see above, he was paired with the French IM Thibault Fantinel and Simon produced a corker of a game, his 35th move was a joy to watch live, and you can follow that game here.

Kristian Holm GM vs Kevin Terrieux IM was a draw while Matthew had to really work for the full point against Trisha on board 2, click here to see that one.

Blair Connell drew with his second French GM in a row, to reach 2/3 so he seems to be on form. Blair wasn't the only untitled player who was doing well, Harry Braine (1990) drew with Alexander Baburin GM in round 1, beat Brandon Jaing CM (2218) in round 2 and also beat Michael Strache (2287) in round 3. This allowed him to"visit" the live board - the round 4 top boards draw looked like this;

1	Matthew Turner GM	3	Simon Williams GM	3
2	Kevin Terrieux IM	2.5	Yuri Solodovnichenko GM	2.5
3	Harry Braine	2.5	Fabien Libiszewski GM	2.5

It didn't surprise many that the only 2 players on 3/3 paired in the 4th round played a quick GM draw, it was all of 6 moves long! No such shinanigans on the other 2 boards, they had a lot to play for. A win for any player here and they's tied for the lead with Turner and Williams.

Kevin Terrieux IM at the CRH Kilkenny Masters

Fabien Libiszewski proved to be a bit too strong for Harry Braine on board 3 and you can see that game here. In the meantime, on board 2, Kevin Terrieux IM, pictured left, uncorked a beautiful move on move 21 against his GM opponent. If you'd like to play through it un until that move and see if you can find it, be my guest, the game can be found here.

On board 8, which of course is not a live board, Claudio Biono (2102) was white against Blair Connell (2205) and I watched the 2 bishops vs bishop and knight endgame, and what an endgame it was. If you appreciate fine endgame play, click here to watch it.

Other players to win in this round included Sebastien Maze, Mark Quinn and Stephen Jessell with wins over Trisha Kanyamarala, Dairy Kelbas and Alexander Baburin respectively.

So our leaders after round 4 were.......

1 - 4 Fabien Libiszewski, Matthew Turner, Simon Williams and Kevin Terrieux, all on 3.5/4

5 - 9 Sebastien Maze, Kristian Holm, Mark Quinn, Stephen Jessell and Blair Connell, all on 3/5

There was a chasing pack of 6 titled players on 2.5 so it was shaping up to be an exciting last 2 rounds.

The round 5 draw looked like this; .

1	Fabien Libiszewski GM	3.5	Matthew Turner GM	3.5
2	Simon Williams GM	3.5	Kevin Terrieux IM	3.5
3	Kristian Holm GM	3	Sebastien Maze GM	3

Libiszewski and Turner had a quick GM draw on board 1, holding on to all their energy for a last round fight. Simon Williams certainly didn't involve himself in any such immediate point-sharing excersises, he pushed for glory on board 2.

Kristian Holm GM from Norway at the Kilkenny Masters

On board 3, our first time visiting GM from Norway, Kristian Holm, pictured right, came second in his encounter with Sebastien Maze, who finished the game nicely. Kristian's father, Ragnar also played in the Masters and this is their 3rd chess visit to Ireland, they seem to like it here!

On board 2, I thought Simon's position was looking a little promising but it was drawn by 3-fold just as I was getting interested in it! You can see this one for yourself here.

The top board was another GM draw, I'm afraid so no link necessary!

Our Ukranian GM visitor, Yuri Solodovnichenko beat Stephen Jessell in this round while Tarun Kanyamarala beat Jerome Solakain-Van Eyll.

I've been reporting only on the Masters but there were, of course other events going on. The Stars Barred event was won very early in round 6 by Fahim Ahmed (0) an unrated player now playing with Carlow. He won the event on a perfect score of 6/6.

The Major event was son by Finn Cummins (1860) from Blanchardstown with a very impressive 5.5/6.

As I write the over 65s event is still going, it won't end until after the closing ceremony but I'll let you know below.

The final round top pairings in the masters looked like this; .

1	Sebastien Maze GM	4	Simon Williams GM	4
2	Kevin Terrieux IM	3.5	Fabien Libiszewski GM	4
3	Matthew Turner GM	4	Tarun Kanyamarala IM	3.5

. There was another quick GM draw on board 1 when Sebastian Maze used the very drawish exchange French to show his peaceful intentions. This left an opportunity for the other two boards to fight to get ahead of the players on the top board. They did indeed do exactly that but in the end, all 3 boards ended peacefully sharing the point. .