Sat 2nd - Sun 10th Aug 2025
Treacy's West County Hotel, Limerick Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 C9CT

Google map | Ennis Chess Club | ICU event page

Prizewinners and Brief Report

=1st-4th, 1st after Playoffs, Irish Champion , Kavin Venkatesan , 6.5 /9 , €850
=1st-4th , Patryk Brozynski , 6.5 /9 , €850
=1st-4th , Conor O'Donnell , 6.5 /9 , €850
=1st-4th , Oleg Gubanov , 6.5 /9 , €850
Grading <2100 FIDE , Darun Govindaraju , 5.5 /9 , €200
Grading <2000 FIDE , Harry Braine , 5.0 /9 , €200
Grading <1870 FIDE , Adam McCoy , 4.0 /9 , €200

Three players who were eligible for the title tied for first place: Conor, Patryk and Kavin. Oleg does not satisfy the eligibility requirements just yet though he shared in the prize money which was divided evenly. Since Conor and Kavin drew their individual encounter and Patrick played neither, it was impossible to separate them by direct encounter. Following discussions with the arbiter a double round robin blitz tournament was used to determine which two qualified for the playoffs, rather than drawing lots.
Blitz Preliminaries
Kavin and Patryk came ahead of Conor and played off with two rapid games. They both won as white and proceeded to two blitz games. Kavin won both to become the 2025 Irish Champion.
Playoffs

Kavin Venkatesan, Irish Champion 2025, with the perpetual trophy

Held outside Dublin for the first time in recent years, the main event attracted 37 players including a large number of promising young players, a great sign for the future of Irish chess. Some of the favourites slipped up in earlier rounds which left the field wide open. Before the final round there were seven players who had a chance of winning first place, as they had 5.5 points or more, provided that neither Oleg nor Colm won. Oleg could only draw with an in form Peter Carroll. With three top games still being played it looked like Colm might draw but eventually Patryk won a nice ending, with two pieces against a rook and pawn and other pawns on the board. Then Kavin drew with Shane and finally Conor drew with Oisín. This led to a three player preliminary to select two to playoff for the title as described above. The players met with the arbiter to agree the exact format, in line with the guidelines laid down in the Terms and Conditions (linked below). As with the rest of the tournament the players played in a spirit of friendly competitiveness and in a sporting manner, quite obviously driven by the quest for the title and olympiad spot more than the prize money which was shared equally. Each player received a quarter of the sum of the 1st to 4th prizes. While the younger players came out on top, the youth did well also in grading prizes for players within certain rating bands as above.

In line with Fair Play procedures, players were not allowed to have electronic devices in their possession in the playing area and about 10% of players were selected at random and scanned for such devices in each round, with none found. On one occasion a spectator was asked to leave when their phone went off.

All games in the main event were broadcast live on Livechess and on Lichess and can be viewed still using the links on the event page, linked above. The Pairings link there also contains detailed results for each round and for each player.

Details

Playing Sections

One section for players with IRL federation rated 1900 or over on any ICU or FIDE list this year. All players may win prize money but only those who satisfy various criteria may earn the title of Irish Champion or be offered a place on the next Olympiad Open team. These criteria are explained best in motion 7 passed at last year's AGM. See minutes and Terms and conditions page. Briefly, this means that any person not born on the island of Ireland, or who does not have an Irish born parent and not an Irish citizen must have been resident here since 1/1/2023 and registered as IRL federation since 1/1/2024 to satisfy the criteria.

Time control

40 moves in 90 mins with 30 mins added after move 40 for the remainder of the game, with a 30 sec increment from move 1.
FIDÉ and ICU rated

Round Times

Sat 2 Aug: Round 1: 3 pm  
Sun 3 Aug: Round 2: 3 pm   (ICC Rapid 8 - 11 pm)  
Mon 4 Aug: Round 3: 3 pm   
Tue 5 Aug: Round 4: 3 pm   
Wed 6 Aug: Round 5: 3 pm   
Thu 7 Aug: Round 6: 3 pm   
Fri 8 Aug: Round 7: 3 pm   
Sat 9 Aug: Round 8: 3 pm   (ICC Blitz 8 - 10:30 pm)  
Sun 10 Aug: Round 9: 11 am   (earlier start to facilitate travelling home)  

Default time 30 mins
Prize giving shortly after last game finishes, around 4.30 pm.

Note that the ICC Rapid starts at 8 pm on Sat 2 Aug, and the ICC Blitz at 8 pm on Sat 9 Aug. Those playing in the main event who enter will be awarded a bye in R1 and R2 automatically if their game is ongoing or they need a break after it. The Junior Rapid and Blitz events do not clash with the main event either.

Entry fee

Early entry by 3 June is
Free for titled players (W)GM, (W)IM, (W)FM,
€40 for 2200+
€65 for 2000+
€90 for 1900+

After 3 July entry is
€20 for titled players (W)GM, (W)IM, (W)FM,
€60 for 2200+
€85 for 2000+
€110 for 1900+

After 30 July, if accepted, entry is
€40 for titled players (W)GM, (W)IM, (W)FM,
€80 for 2200+
€105 for 2000+
€130 for 1900+

Unwaged, including students, get 25% off the above rates. Other conditions for titled players may be available. Contact the organiser.

Entries

All entries on the ICU event page linked above.

Live Boards

Top boards transmitted live, linked from the event page.

Pairings

Pairings for round 1 will be published there by 6 pm on Thu 31 July. Late entries will be paired with each other or with anyone who gets an unrequested bye.

Organisers

Chief Organiser: John Cassidy, 087 249 5913, [email protected]
Chief Arbiter: John Loughran

Accommodation

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

Stonehaven and Banner Lodge are nearby.
Airbnb
Booking.com

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

Provisional Breakdown of Prizemoney, soon

Guaranteed Prizefund € 4,000 with a guaranteed first prize of €1,500. Grading Prizes (GP) will be awarded in to players within certain rating bands who do not win another prize, using tie-breaks where necessary. 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.

Main event prize fund: €4,000
1st €1,500
2nd €900
3rd €600
4th €400
Grading Prize 1 €200
Grading Prize 2 €200
Grading Prize 3 €200

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 for the top pairings.

Rules

General

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.

While quiet is expected in the playing hall, players will be allowed to spectate quietly after they finish playing. Spectators should not have electronic devices powered on in the playing areas.

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. A metal detector may be used to perform random checks on players during games to detect such devices.

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.

Before games

Before each game bring your name card with you to your board from the name cards on the table at the side. At the end return them. Be seated early to hear 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). The arbiter will mark in + - or - + on the pairings sheet rather than 1-0 or 0-1.

Players in the main event should hand in their scoresheets after each game, with the result signed by both players. These can be got back the next day, and the moves are of course also available from the live boards.

We hope that you enjoy your games and allow others to enjoy theirs.