They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them

The Irish chess community was plunged into deep sadness recently with the news of the passing of a great friend and servant Philip Hogarty from Jobstown. Philip was tragically killed in a car accident on the morning of January the 1st last. He was nineteen years old when he died. Although the shock of his passing reverberated throughout the chess clubs of Ireland nowhere was it more cruelly felt than in South County Dublin where Philip grew up and learned to play the noble game. Philip had strong links with a number of clubs in the area. First and foremost he began his chess life in his home club of Jobstown. It was here that the seeds of his talents were nurtured and developed. Although his skills at the chess board eventually called him to one of the strongest clubs in Ireland he never forgot his roots and maintained a close bond with his childhood club to the end of his short life. Philip was also a regular and welcome visitor to the Tallaght Chess Club where he spent many an evening playing chess and socialising with its members. Finally, as Philip’s playing strength continued to grow he joined the Irish Club Champions Rathmines where he became a much valued and loved member of the club.

Philip’s achievements as a chess player were many and varied. In 2004 he won the Leinster Schools Under 16 Championship while in 2006 he played on the top board for DIT in the Irish Intervarsities helping them to achieve third place in this challenging competition. After moving to the Rathmines Chess Club in 2006 he played on the top board in the Heidenfeld Memorial amassing an excellent 9 points out of 11 to finish as the competition’s top scorer for the 2006/2007 season. Finally, in an achievement which seemed set to propel him to the upper echelons of Irish Chess, Philip was selected to play for Rathmines’ strongest team in Ireland’s premier event the Armstrong Cup for the 2007/2008 season. At the halfway stage of this competition Philip had scored a very credible 4 points out of 6 against mainly expert opponents. Alas, we will never know how far his passion for the game would have taken him but at the time of his death Philip had already reached number 32 in the Irish Chess Union rating list.

It was not just at the board that Philip made his mark on the Irish chess scene. In 2006 he was elected chairman of the Irish Chess Union. At 18 years of age he was the youngest person ever to be elected to this position. The election of one so young to such a prominent post raised more than a few eyebrows amongst the wise old heads of this organisation. However, any concerns that his young age would imply a lack of maturity for such a demanding post were quickly allayed. During his time as chairman many new and positive developments took place in Irish chess. Foremost among these developments were the inauguration of a new Hall of Fame, the revamping of the Irish Chess Championships (in which a number of top grandmasters from overseas participated) and the hosting by Ireland of the international competitions for budding underage players the Glorney and Faber Cups.

I first met Philip when I played him in the Intermediate Irish Championships in 2005. I remember well the determined, aggressive fighter who successfully defended an extremely difficult position for the best part of three hours. I remember even better the friendly, likable youngster with whom I became acquainted after we shook hands at the end of the game. And therein lies a clue to Philip’s personality as a chess player and as a person. He played the game with great passion, skill and aggression but once the game was over he was a friend to all. Perhaps this trait is best summarised by his childhood friend and fellow chess player, Darren McCabe, who said of Philip, “On the chessboard he was ruthless in his pursuit of victory. Off the chessboard he was the most genuine down to earth guy you could meet. Phil was very popular. He made friends effortlessly wherever he went.” Philip’s popularity is evidenced by the great sadness felt across the city of Dublin and the country of Ireland at his passing. It was also evidenced at his funeral recently where a large crowd squeezed into St. Thomas’ church in Jobstown to bid their friend a final farewell. It will be evidenced for many years to come in the empty space he leaves behind in the lives of those who loved him so well.

Of course no one will feel the loss of one so young more bitterly than his family and close friends. While no words can adequately comfort those who suffer so much I wish to express on behalf of the Tallaght Chess Club my deepest sympathy at their great loss. Goodbye Philip. Sleep well and until your family, friends and fellow chess players meet you again may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

See also tributes on the ChessBase website by some of Philip's friends (Ed).