Ennis Congress 2025

Fri 16th - Sun 18th May 2025. A modern tournament in a medieval town.
Treacy's West County Hotel, Limerick Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 C9CT

Google map | Ennis Chess Club | ICU event page

Prize fund

€2,500 subject to entry.
Provisional breakdown of prizes is detailed below.

Playing Sections

Masters: 1850 +
Cathal Walsh: 1700 - 1900
Michael Meaney: 1500 - 1750
Jim Hussey: U1550

Players will be entered into the section appropriate to their ICU or FIDÉ rating, taking their preference into consideration, but rating ranges will be strictly enforced, especially as there is a 50 point overlap between sections.

Time control

90 mins + 30 sec/move in Masters, Cathal Walsh and Michael Meaney sections
60 mins + 30 sec/move in Jim Hussey section
FIDÉ and ICU rated

Round Times

In Masters, Cathal Walsh and Michael Meaney sections
Fri 16th May, R1: 8:00pm,
Sat 17th May, R2: 10.00am, R4: 2.30pm*
Sun 18th May, R5: 10.00am, R6: 3.00pm
Prize giving shortly after last game finishes, around 7.15pm. *Players involved in R2 games that finish close to 2 pm will be allowed to start R3 at 2:45 to allow time for lunch.

In Jim Hussey section
Fri 16th May, R1: 8:00pm,
Sat 17th May, R2: 10.00am, R4: 2.00pm
Sun 18th May, R5: 10.00am, R6: 2.00pm
Prize giving shortly after last game finishes, around 5.15pm.

Default time 30 mins.

Live Boards

Top boards in most sections transmitted live, linked from the event page.

Entry fee

Adults €40 and Juniors/Students/Retired €25 by Wed 14 May, €15 extra after that if accepted.
Free entry for titled players (GM, WGM, WIM, IM, FM) who contact John Cassidy as below, by Tue 6th May, full fee after that. For family or group reductions contact the organiser.

Entries

All entries on ICU event page. Some discounts available on discussion with the organiser.

Pairings

Pairings for round 1 will be published there before 6 pm on Thu 15th May. Late entries will be paired with each other or with anyone who gets an unrequested bye.
Rating bands strictly enforced. Irish residents must be registered with the ICU.

Organisers

Chief Organiser: John Cassidy, 087 249 5913, [email protected] (Add address?)
Chief Arbiter: John Loughran

Accommodation

Hotels

Phone the West County Hotel on 065 686 9600 for very good rates for chess players. Woodstock Hotel and Temple Gate are more central.

B&Bs

Stonehaven and Banner Lodge are nearby.

Other suggestions:

Airbnb
Booking.com

The town centre still retains its charm from medieval times with lots of small shops. The tour is to be reccommended.

Provisional Breakdown of Prizemoney

Current Prizefund € 2,500 subject to entry. Grading Prizes (GP) will be awarded in each section for players within certain rating bands who do not win another prize, using tie-breaks where necessary. Where a player has no FIDÉ rating, their national rating will be used to determine their rating band. In general prize money is shared between players on equal points, although tie-breaks are used where there are multiple players sharing 1st - 3rd prizes, at the organisers' discretion.

Prizemoney will be given in cash to prize winners during the prize giving soon after the final round.

The Jim Hussey Cup will be awarded to the winner in the Masters. If necessary there will be a playoff for the cup as follows between the top two players on tiebreak: Two blitz games (3+2). If not decisive this is followed by an Armageddon game - 5 mins for white, 4 mins for black who wins the cup if the game is drawn.

Masters total prizes: € 1020

1st € 500
2nd € 250
3rd € 130
GP € 70
GP € 70

Cathal Walsh total prizes: € 650
1st € 300
2nd € 150
3rd € 80
GP € 60
GP € 60

Michael Meaney total prizes: € 450
1st € 200
2nd € 100
3rd € 50
GP € 50
GP € 50

Jim Hussey total prizes: € 390
1st € 100
2nd € 70
3rd € 40
GP € 40
GP € 40

Woman € 100**
**Awarded to the highest placed woman or girl who does not win a bigger prize.

Playing Conditions

Expect airy, spacious and pleasant playing conditions with some professional touches. These include name cards on all boards and board numbers, as well as live boards in most sections.

Members and Friends

Jim Hussey was Ennis chess coach for a long number of years. When he taught Ennis juniors we won a lot of titles, most notably the British Schools Championship in 1987. He was a brilliant coach, a great ambassador for Irish chess and a wonderful person.

Michael Meaney was a member of the Limerick Chess Club for years. Having lost his sight while very young, he played in many Braille Chess tournaments. He was a great encouragement for younger players and a fine musician.

Cathal Walsh played for Lucan chess club but was a regular participant in chess events all over Ireland including Limerick and Ennis, a great character and very popular in the Irish chess circuit.

Rules

General

Overall we hope to provide a pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy your chess. Players will be asked to contribute to this. Speak to the arbiter if in doubt. While quiet is expected in the playing hall, players will be allowed to spectate quietly after they finish playing.

FIDÉ rules apply. If you need something explained or feel your opponent may be breaking a rule please do not hesitate to stop your clock and raise your hand to call an arbiter.

Electronic devices are not permitted in the playing hall, corridor, toilets or outdoor smoking area. An exception is if they are left near the controller's desk, switched off, not on silent. Electronic devices include anything that may make a noise or vibrate including watches, alarms.

The organizers have the right to refuse entry without giving a reason.

Byes

A player may receive up to two half point byes, except in the last round, provided a request is made before pairings are done. Players should ensure that a bye request was written down and may check that one has been registered on chess-results by choosing the "unpaired" link after the latest round.

A player who receives a 1 point bye due to an odd number should still turn up as they may be offered a game against a late entrant or another player whose opponent failed to show within 30 mins. They may refuse, but if they wish to play they should turn up. These games will count and will be rated unless agreed otherwise.

Before games

Before each game bring your name card with you to your board from the name cards on the table at the end of each section. At the end return them. Be seated early to hear any important announcements.

During games

With a 30 second increment players are required to record their moves to the end of their game, and keep their scoresheet up to date.

After games

At the end of your game please reset the pieces and place the two kings in the centre of the board. If white won place both on white squares. If black one place both on black squares. If the game was drawn place them on e4 and e5. On electronic boards place the kings in the centre immediately, before moving other pieces, so that the result is registered. Do not analyse at the board, but in the analysis room, where sets are provided. Please set these sets up after use. Return your name card to the tables on the side and mark in your score.

Please write the result on the pairings sheet on the wall or noticeboard. If your opponent fails to show 30 mins after the round started call the arbiter to claim a win by default (a walkover), who will mark in + - or - + on the pairings sheet rather than 1-0 or 0-1, or who may offer you a new opponent.