We are delighted to announce the following sponsors of Cork Chess Congress 2003
| CHRISTIES FLOOR COVERINGS |
|---|
| DONNYBROOK |
| DOUGLAS |
| CORK |
| Tel:021 4892240 |
It was a case of top Marks for Cork at the annual Cork Chess Congress held in the Gresham Metropole Hotel over the weekend of the 21st - 23rd March, with Grand Master Mark Hebden from England leading the field at the start of play, closely followed by Irish International Masters Mark Heidenfeld, Mark Orr and Mark Quinn.
This event has been going from strength to strength since moving to the Metropole three years ago, and is now well established as one of the top chess events in Ireland.
Thanks to financial support from Cork County Council this year we were able to lift the profile of the Congress even more by inviting the four titled players, and the County Council are to be congratulated on their foresight in supporting what some regard as a "minority" sport, but which in reality attracts huge numbers of players from all walks of life, all ages, and all abilities. This weekend in Cork for example, there were nearly two hundred players from nine different nationalities, and most of the very successful Irish Olympiad team. There was a blind player, a young boy who has to live with cerebral palsy, and an age range from eight years old to seventy-five.
I must also acknowledge the continued sponsorship of the Minor Section of the Congress by ESB, and especially the support given by their Public Relations Officer, Anne Allen. Whilst it is great to have international stars playing in Cork, the support of the younger up and coming players, some of whom will undoubtedly be the stars of the future is equally important, and the support and encouragement given by ESB for them is vital.
The internationals did not have things all their own way though, and faced some tough opposition from the lower rated players. The star turn of the weekend was undoubtedly local man Philip Short, originally from Douglas and now working in Galway. Philip himself earned the title "Fide Master" some years ago, and turned in a terrific performance. Indeed, he was the only player in the Masters Section to be on maximum points going into the final round, where he was just caught by Grand Master Mark Hebden.
After a tough weekend of six rounds - starting Friday night and finishing Sunday evening, the final positions in each of the three playing sections were as follows -
Minor Section 1st Thomas Lane from St Benildus School on 5½, 2nd equal were Catherine Danaher (Shannon) John P Barry (St. Benildus) and John Perrot from Adare on 5. The Major Section was also a close finish with Patrick Miller from England coming first on 5½, and Charles Ayanleke second on 5. Charles is from Nigeria but now resident in Cork, and a welcome addition to the Cork Club. There were no less than nine tying for third place!
The Masters Section was finally won by Grand Master Mark Hebden on 5½, but only after a tense final game with Philip Short who had to be satisfied with second place on 5. The other three Marks came in third equal with Joe Ryan, Mel O'Cinneide (Dublin) and Cork Club's own rising star Alex Lopez.
All in all a great weekend of Chess, with some memorable games. The total entry was almost two hundred, and both the numbers and the quality of the players was significantly increased on last year.
Michael Burniston
Chairman Cork Chess Club.
