These are being held in Dublin from 30th June to 8th July. About 3 years ago the Irish Chess Union decided to open up their championships to non-Irish players in an attempt to attract grandmasters and increase GM and IM norm opportunities.
With significant sponsorship, this year's event has realised that ambition with the English GMs Stuart Conquest, Mark Hebden and Nick Pert competing alongside the Lithuanian GM Eduardas Rozentalis. Ulster IMs Brian Kelly and Mark Orr are both playing in the event. Kelly needs one final norm for his GM title and is currently leading on 3/3 after beating Orr in Round 3. There have been plenty of shocks already with Hebden and Rozentalis both losing to untitled Irish opponents.
Less of a surprise was the performance of QUB captain Chris Millar in the Irish Junior Championship held over the first weekend of the Championships. Fresh from his victory in the Henderson Cup at the Belfast Boat Club only 2 weeks earlier, Millar squeezed into this under 1500 event as number 2 seed, due to his ICU rating being lower than his UCU one of 1536. He started with 4 straight wins and had the luxury of being able to agree a draw in the fifth and final round to clinch an outright first place.
Calum Leitch competed in the Irish Intermediate (under 1900) and "played some of the best chess I've ever played" but unfortunately lacked that bit of luck every player needs. His final score of 2.5/5 didn't reflect the quality of his chess, a point confirmed by Millar in his article on the event on the QUB Chess Club website.
You can follow the action at the Irish Chess Union's official website. Former Irish champion Colm Daly is not only competing in the championships but also reporting on them. Colm's articles are always well worth a read.
