Irish Championship 2022

corkcitychess · 07-07-2022 9:38am

I am predicting Tom O' Gorman will win the championship!

just my opinion of course 😀

macelligott · 07-07-2022 11:44am

For the “older generation” who might be interesting in playing on a Team in Dresden at the end of October see:

https://www.icu.ie/events/1593

sodacat11 · 07-07-2022 11:55am

I can't help but with agree with spidersweb regarding some of the things he says about the clueless keyboard warriors who have never played in an Irish Championship and never will yet they are the very people who voted for the diluted version of the Irish Championship that we now have. People who aren't qualified to play in an Irish Ch should have no say whatsoever on how it is run any more than I should be allowed decide how Wimbledon or the All Ireland hurling championship is structured.

When I first qualified to play in an Irish championship some 42 years ago I had to win the Leinster Championship to get my rating high enough. Nowadays any kid with a K factor of 40 can have a couple of decent results giving him a 1700 rating and he's in. It isn't even that difficult in truth since people with vested interests can nominate anyone on all sorts of vague grounds.

I've been a regular entrant for the Irish Ch over the years and it always used to be THE ultimate test in Irish chess because for 9 rounds you would NEVER play anyone rated under 1900, i.e players who had proven themselves to be very near or over the "expert" level. A few years ago this all changed because a rich sponsor came in. This sponsor was the parent of a very good young player who was over 1900 but his son had a friend who was well below this threshold. The sponsor insisted that his son's friend be allowed to play and the Controller who was getting free hotel accommodation for himself and his Mrs agreed. This was the first leak in the dam. We then had a couple of farcical opens where the winner wasn't necessarily the Irish Champions at all and where in fact in one of the years the "Irish Champion" got the title without playing most of his rivals. During these years I alone kicked up about what was happening to my beloved Irish Championship even though many players I spoke to shared my views. The result was that the qualification criteria was voted on at an AGM by the very pedantic pawn pushers that spidersweb criticizes and, as always happens when committee type people get involved , everyone wanted to put their piece in ( remember that a camel is a horse designed by a committee) and now we have this glorified Irish Open where you can get in as soon as you learn the en passant rule and how to castle queenside.

I have loved competing in the Irish Championship over the years so it will sadden me if this is my last but it really annoys me as a true chess lover to see what it has become where standards are reduced to the lowest common denominator so that everyone can play.

The championship has been held for 101 years and for most of that time tradition was respected and revered but not any longer. There is a magnificent trophy for the winner with the names of all the past worthy champions engraved on it, maybe now it is time for that trophy to be retired, the tournament to be renamed The Irish Open and for everyone who plays in it be given a little plastic replica instead.

zeitnot · 07-07-2022 12:36pm

The 1900 cutoff wasn't always absolutely strictly enforced, but it's true that exceptions seem to have expanded a bit.

1978--1 player out of 23 below 1900 (1889)

1988--3 players out of 21 below 1900 (lowest 1805)

1998--3 players out of 20 below 1900 (lowest 1859)

This year, it's 4 out of 24 starters, lowest 1746.

sodacat11 · 07-07-2022 12:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119303607#Comment_119303607

I'd have no problem if the rating floor was reduced to 1850 or even 1800 once it was STRICTLY observed with NO exceptions. 1746 is a bridge too far and don't forget there is a 1624 in it now to even up the numbers when it would have made much more sense to drop the 1746 out since he was never qualified to play in the first place.

Retd.LoyolaCpt · 07-07-2022 2:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119303382#Comment_119303382

I only really want to quote the line there about those who haven't qualified should have no say in it. If we're allowed to silence particular groups of people, I would like to extend that to all those who haven't organised an Irish should keep stum about how the organisers implement the rules that are set out by AGMs. Not that I'm organising this year's event, and not that I'm actually advocating for this - but if you're playing the hypothetical game, I will too.

As I remember, as I was there, the latest rules for wildcards were based on your motion which went through with amendments (edit).

Although I wasn't there for your first Irish in 1980, I can see from the IRLchess report that 20% of the field had a rating.

https://www.irlchess.com/irlch1980_allfiles/pairings_irlch1980.html

One of the players on the list has never had a fide over 1800, one player is now a Scot. No report there yet for 1981 but 1982? A French player (looking at only FIDE data available - YOBs seem to match) never rated above 1600, 2 other players rated under 1900 Irish permitted entry (no FIDEs). The next report is for 1988: 3 players under 1900 - one of whom did very well. The next report available with ICU ratings, 1994: A 1689 and another sub 1900.

Present day: 2017: 1 sub 1900 who evened numbers. 2018: 5 sub 1900s at the time of the event but 3 of whom were 1900+ when they were entered and another who finished with a 2200+ RP. 2019: 1 player sub 1900 who evened numbers and was over 1900 that year. 2020: during a pandemic no less; 5 under 1900. 3 of whom had been over 1900, another who finished 8th out of 32 and one who was brought in for 1 round to avoid byes. 2021 again during a massive covid wave which led to 10 pullouts in the last week: 5 under 1900: 2 were 1900+ when they entered. 2 were carried as subs in round 1 when someone pulled out after the draw was made - so rather than re-paid the entire event on short notice, we added a second sub and carried that sub with the plan that either would drop out if covid cost us more players. One of the subs was given byes in three of the last 5 rounds to account for traveling byes.

On quick review of these players I see: 1 2200, 1 2140, 1 2075, 1 2050, 1 1981, 1 1913, 1 1887, 1 1830 and the remainder are/were subs.

Standards haven't dropped one iota in my view. Compare the last 5 years to any other 10 year spell and there's more top players in those fields than in any comparable decade. I won't make any apologies for myself or Ivan in any of the above nor will I take it lightly that you disparage these entrants based on a story from (i'm guessing as I don't know) 15 years ago? None of these players bought their way in - they've had at best a quarter of the events to get a rating in the last 2.5 years and if we feel they're on the cusp and would have got to 1900 under normal circumstances, then we may offer them a wildcard; that in my view is the purpose of a wildcard. I'm glad you continue to play but don't bring feelings to a facts fight.

RooksPawn · 07-07-2022 2:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119301960#Comment_119301960

Yes, my mistake.

corkcitychess · 07-07-2022 2:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119303709#Comment_119303709

Well said Retd.....

Soda...we all know your feelings on this issue but it is time to give it a rest....everyone should be grateful to the 1746 for playing to even up the numbers in the first instance.....it is ridiculous to even think that half way through an event it would in anyway be morally acceptable to drop a player out of an event not to mention totally illegal and unenforceable (unless said 1746 player were offered a big brown envelope with wads of cash to do so) Now we should all be grateful for the 1624 player standing in as a filler as no wants a forced day off in a 9 day event...especially any player that has travelled from a long way or overseas.

Soda...good luck in your remaining games.

RooksPawn · 07-07-2022 2:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119302641#Comment_119302641

If he wins today, it is a possibility. If he doesn't there is only one winner.

zeitnot · 07-07-2022 2:32pm

Irish championships attract strong opinions all round! It's good that anyone cares.

The last few years have been outstanding: the run of championships starting in 2017 has been the best ever, in my view. (As opposed to, say, 2016: two players over 2200 on either list, another two over 2100, one of them just barely.)

For 1980, many more players must have had ratings, but finding the old lists is not that easy. Sometimes newspapers listed the top 10-20 players in the country, but that was it. Full lists are available for 1978, 1988, and 1998, and a few others. (Some old lists are newly available, but the reports have not yet been updated.)

I am not sure who the Scot was in 1980: I think all those players were Irish. (Guy Lyons is now registered as SCO, but he only moved there around 1983.)

Similarly, I'm not sure who the French player was in 1982. I think all those players were born in Ireland.

Without expressing an opinion on the latest rules for wildcards (and I was not there), I think they come from the 2018 AGM, where motion 2 (strict application of 1900 on some list in the same calendar year) was defeated, and instead a modified version of motion 1 (ICU executive), with the current statement of wildcards (2 ICU, 1 organisers, Irish Women's, 50+, 65+ champions and all previous winners), was accepted.

Retd.LoyolaCpt · 07-07-2022 2:40pm

Thanks Zeitnot, my post amended accordingly.

RooksPawn · 07-07-2022 3:20pm

In the above discussion about eligibility rules, nobody seems to have mentioned that two of the lowest-rated players are the most talented primary school kids we have had in this country since Tom O'Gorman and Henry Li, who first played the championship when they were 12 years old in 2014. They have grown up with online chess during the pandemic and this is the first time for them to play adults at this ultra-slow time limit. If we want to develop future IMs and GMs we need to encourage them and give them such experiences young.

On the other hand I can see partly where sodacat is coming from. If your rating is fairly stable in the 1900-1990 range you could feel entitled to think when entering, if I can score 4/9 then I shouldn't lose any serious amount of rating points and with 4.5/9 I might gain a few. But if two or three of the opponents are seriously sub-1900 that may not be the case, because you don't get much for your wins while your draws and losses are seriously penalised. The influx of new under-rated players is dragging down the ratings of many active Irish players because the opportunities to play against overseas opponents who may be over-rated have been very limited since 2019.

zeitnot · 07-07-2022 4:30pm

Neither Tom nor Henry played in 2014. They both played in 2015 (when they were under 1900) but not in 2016 (when they were over 1900). It's hard to blame them: everyone likes to play up, few like to play down.

RooksPawn · 07-07-2022 5:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119304864#Comment_119304864

Yes 2015, was writing from a memory that is clearly less reliable than of old.

Sad to see Eamon Keogh today playing such a rubbish opening and getting crushed with White in 19 moves.

corkcitychess · 07-07-2022 6:30pm

Great minature by Sam Murray - the 1674 guy...demolishing former Irish Champion Eamon Keogh in 19 moves. A win like that could inspire confidence...maybe a future Irish champion in the making.

corkcitychess · 07-07-2022 6:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119304864#Comment_119304864

yes I had a tough draw with a very young kid in 2015...below 1900....what was his name?...Tom somebody.....oh yeah Tom O' Gorman...5 years later he was Irish Champion!

RooksPawn · 07-07-2022 9:43pm

Round 7 top boards: Tarun (5) v Oisin (4); Peter Carroll (4) v Tom (4.5); Conor v Henry (both on 4); Colm (3.5) v Alex (4).

That's all the players above 50 per cent.

Eamon and Sam not playing tomorrow.

Joedryan · 08-07-2022 2:32am

I see Shane Melaugh is in the weekender so I guess it is OK to drop out of main event to play in that?

Asking for a friend.

Retd.LoyolaCpt · 08-07-2022 7:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119306998#Comment_119306998

I think you're confusing brothers.

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 12:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119304010#Comment_119304010

I am not cricicizing yourself or Ivan as the "sell out" did not happen on your watch as far as I remember and certainly not on Ivan's. As for your point about top players I agree but usually it isn't the top players who end up playing what I perceive to be the "unqualified players". I really don't understand what your objection (or anyone else's for that matter) is to having a designated floor which is strictly observed without exceptions. Players have 12 months to qualify between tournaments and if they can't make the 1900 floor then they simply aren't good enough regardless of reputation or past record. It is a perfectly fair system and avoids nepotism, favouritism and pressure from either sponsors or parents.

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 1:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119304200#Comment_119304200

The 1746 was not the last entry so he was not brought in "to even up numbers" as you claim. The whole situation is ridiculous, we might just as well allow 30 yr olds play in the Over 50s competition and 40 yr olds into the veteran section on the grounds that they too will someday be older, there really is no difference between that and allowing 16 and 17oos into a competition for 1900+ players but I guess cash is king and to hell with tradition.

Thanks for the good wishes :)

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 1:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119304212#Comment_119304212

The list of "exceptions" is even worse than I thought and is blatantly susceptible to nepotism and outside influences. I look forward to seeing what is going to happen when an 1820 rated ex con from Ballydehob and a 1799 Gonzaga player who happens to be the son of the sponsor both want the same wildcard place.

Retd.LoyolaCpt · 08-07-2022 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119308475#Comment_119308475

I never said I was wild on sub 1900s playing, I'm mostly annoyed you've quoted falling standards - which I think I've demonstrated is BS given the floor was never enforced as stringently as it was until recently. At the time, I voted against your motion because it would have prevented subs which prevent odd numbers.

Taking out the pandemic years, which I think is more than fair, I showed in my prior post that everyone bar subs had a qualifying rating during the previous 6 months from memory apart from the odd sub who I think is just better than a bye (and if you disagree, you always have the option to say to the arbiter before the event or next round ideally before draw is made - I'd rather a bye in the event I'm playing the sub).

In the last three years, have the organisers been less strict - yes. Players don't and haven't had this chance you talk about to get their rating up to 1900. Some of these players were under 10 when the pandemic started, some hadn't picked up a piece before 2020 and they've demonstarted significant improvement in every event they've played. Even with K40 - they can't conceivably gain 600-700 points in a single season when 75-95% of the usual events are cancelled. Its ridiculous to me that you'd consider that unfair given the circumstances. When we're back to pre-pandemic levels of events, I'm sure the organiser will revert to the same level of strictness that we were employing in 2016-2019.

As for the "sell-out", if you know what example you're talking about (which again, if I knew about, I'd be more specific - but haven't the foggiest) then you're well able to look back to see if I was involved if you're going to make accusations - the first Irish I ran (which was the first event I ran since Gonzaga in '05) was the one I ran poorly (not that I was helped by the venue): UCD in 2016.

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 1:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119308647#Comment_119308647

Obviously is players that were not qualified to play when the floor was 1900 are now playing then standards have fallen. And regarding your point that everyone should have a say on the running of the Irish Ch does that mean that if I put in a motion that every ICU member should be allowed play in it regardless of rating and that this motion is carried by vote at the AGM (as it undoubtedly would be if enough low rated players are present) then that is what ill happen?

RooksPawn · 08-07-2022 2:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119307150#Comment_119307150

Maybe he was but I see now both Melaughs are entered for the weekender.

I have no problem about S. Melaugh but G. Melaugh entered both the Irish Championship and the Weekday Open (in which play starts 9.30am) which seemed odd to me at the time.

In the latter he won round 1 and then dropped out (hardly fair to his first round opponent), perhaps because he realised two games in a day was too much or maybe because the opposition (bar one relatively experienced 1703) was going to be weak.

In the championship he drew two games and then withdrew after losing the third.

Maybe the ICU should have a rule prohibiting players who have withdrawn midway through the Championship from then playing the weekender; that seems to be what the original poster was implying?

corkcitychess · 08-07-2022 2:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119308708#Comment_119308708

Theoretically that is correct but highly unlikely to ever happen.....remember its a 9 day event and that is a huge committment, also I seem to recall many years ago that the age for voting at AGM's was increased to 16 or 18 as a result of some unscrupulous parents bringing their kids to AGMs and getting their kids to vote some dodgy motions through.

Retd.LoyolaCpt · 08-07-2022 2:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119308708#Comment_119308708

When have I said that all players should have a say? News to me. You might be confusing me with the ICU constitution.

You are just lying to yourself on standards. I show you year after year where u1900s players through the 80s and 90s in every year I could find records for - and you say that standards are falling only now. Feelings vs Facts.

And your latter point just makes me laugh for the simple fact that of the thousands of members that the ICU has had in its history - every one of them that is eligible to vote at an AGM has had the chance to table that motion and no one ever has to my knowledge.

corkcitychess · 08-07-2022 4:12pm

yes...there have been a few dubious motions in the past...most falling by the wayside.....one of my small legacies in Irish chess was my 2006 motion that "the reigning Irish champion must always be offered a place on the Irish team"...still stands today!

It sounds common sense doesn't it? but incredibly back in 2006 it was a highly contencious motion because there was a large well known click of Irish titled players that were strongly opposed to the motion because it would be in theory denying one of their buddies a place on the team! There was a large turnout at the AGM and after that key motion was voted upon during the interval while the votes were being counted...the then ICU chairman..Eamonn Pitts (RIP) approached me and had the audacity to say...ah...."------" it looks like its a shame that you wasted your journey to come all this way only to lose your motion!

I had the last laugh as the motion was passed (it was very close..only passed by 2 votes) and that was in a large part in thanks to the lower rated grass roots members who voted it through....not the high rated titled ones and their buddies...I think Joe Ryan was in attendance for that AGM also and was one of the supporters of the motion.

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 8:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119304491#Comment_119304491

You make some good points but I don't accept that we are underrated compared to other countries as maybe we once were. Countries like India, Norway, and Lithuania are probably the most under rated.

As for future IMs GMs if players can't get to 1900 when they have a K factor of 40 then I would suggest that they will never be GMs. Also a lot of the kids that we bent the rules for in the past don't seem to play chess any more.

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 8:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119309207#Comment_119309207

Let's see what happens when I make that very proposal at the next AGM :)

As things stand the rules are " motion 1 (ICU executive), with the current statement of wildcards (2 ICU, 1 organisers, Irish Women's, 50+, 65+ champions and all previous winners)" So we have Keogh as a previous winner, fair enough. The women playing are over 1900. Over 50s and 60s champs haven't entered so if as you say you want to discuss FACTS that leaves THREE places up for grabs yet we have FIVE low rated players getting in. Sounds a bit Boris Johnsonish to me. This proves my point that there should be clear and transparent criteria for who plays instead of leaving it at the discretion of your good self, the Arbiter or even the President of Ireland.

Your "facts" about the amount of unrated players in previous championships are equally disingenuous but I'm not pedantic enough to go sifting through the past 42 championships or whatever it is . I played in most of them, I know what they were like.

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 8:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119309708#Comment_119309708

That clique hasn't gone away you know.

sodacat11 · 08-07-2022 8:49pm

In case anyone is wondering why the star attraction is not playing in the Irish Championship tomorrow it's because I'm playing in the qualifier for the Captain's Prize in my golf club. The Captains is a very prestigious event with a long history and tradition that is honoured and observed and no one is allowed to play in next week's final unless they qualify by getting into the top 90 with no exceptions made for anyone that might be the next Tiger Woods. In the past the Irish Chess Championship would always meant more to me but somehow the Captains seems to have overtaken it in my estimation recently.

zeitnot · 08-07-2022 9:11pm

Eamon Keogh is rated 1931 FIDE, so needed no special consideration to get in.

(Incidentally, this year marks the 60th anniversary of his first championship, Derry 1962, where he scored 4.5/8 and finished 7th/16, 1 point short of sharing first. I think the 60-year span is an all-time record, by a considerable margin.)

Having a volunteer who is willing to step in as a filler is only a good thing, I think, and I personally wouldn’t count him negatively.

It’s true that that leaves 4 low-rated players rather than 3.

macelligott · 08-07-2022 10:21pm

My own view is that anyone who would not play one of the rounds in our national championship because of a round of golf should be hung, drawn and quartered - at the very least!

sodacat11 · 09-07-2022 7:59am

The Arbiter's option is there to provide for fillers and that option had already been used. I'm being made out to be the villain here but the ICU broke its own rules. I have /had no objection to the three 1800+ players who got in and my protest only started when Liu was illegally admitted and then the problem was further compounded with a 1600 getting in.

Probably I should sue the Arbiter and the ICU for abuse of powers but since they provided excellent toffees during the tournament I have told my legal team to back off for now.

sodacat11 · 09-07-2022 2:10pm

Some contributors here are very on the ball when it comes to digging up old posts , ICU rules and the like. I'm pretty sure that when my proposal to impose a 1900 rating floor was defeated my RetdCapt Loyola's amendment RCL stated that the reason an Arbiter would have a wild card pick was in the event that there was an uneven number. I'd be grateful if some eagle eyed poster could find the post where he said that as I am in no doubt that the ICU has broken its own rules this year regardless of how well intentioned the motive might have been.

corkcitychess · 09-07-2022 5:18pm

Diana Mats

shows as FIDE registered with Ukraine. Can someone explain why she was allowed to enter our main national championships?

I am very sympathetic to Ukrainians suffering as a result of Putins war (I even recently contacted the HR dept in my company to donate 1 months salary towards the humanitarian effort in the Ukraine) and it is very commendable that the ICU has given all temporary dislocated Ukrainian chess players now resident in Ireland free membership of the ICU but rules are rules...has she recently changed federation to IRL?

All participants must be current members of the Irish Chess Union (ICU) and all entrants to the main week-long event must be registered as IRL with FIDE.

Non-IRL players are permitted to entered the other events but may not claim the title of "Irish Champion" in any section. The titles will be awarded to the highest placed IRL player. Prize money will be awarded as stated with no distinction between IRL and non-IRL.

macelligott · 09-07-2022 5:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119313979#Comment_119313979

An odd one all right.

zeitnot · 09-07-2022 7:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119313372#Comment_119313372

The only reference is in the minutes of the 2018 AGM: see https://icu.ie/system/downloads/000/000/411/a4354961a25ec63044027807c235c1d4573be36b.pdf?1567354739. They don't record the discussion (just for Motion 1 "Passed with some amendments based on discussion of motion 2.").

Based just on the wording (which is all we have officially), I'd have thought that the invitations before the event cover all purposes, including making an even number of players, but getting back to an even number of players after someone withdraws from the event is a separate category.

corkcitychess · 09-07-2022 8:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119313979#Comment_119313979

In the absense of an official response (hopefully one forthcoming) the 2022 Irish national chess championships will have to be retrospectively listed as an "open tournament"...shame...lets hope the 2023 organisers follow the rules .

https://ratings.fide.com/profile/14138611

Joedryan · 09-07-2022 9:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119314744#Comment_119314744

Not sure what has happened there, I guess somebody has messed up?

spidersweb · 10-07-2022 12:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119302641#Comment_119302641

Perfectly reasonable opinion and guess. Poor prediction at that stage though. Now as actually predicted, Tom will face Daly with Black in the last round needing to win and hope that as also predicted Ryan playing Tarun ion the last round Ryan can keep his 100% record of winning (1) against Tarun.

Rd8 and or Rd9 were excellent points to try make predictions. My guess is that Tarun draws (securing victory) Tom losing (or drawing) and Baburin wnning with top 3 being 1 Tarun, 2 Baburin (or and Tom), 3 Tom, 4 Daly, Henry Li?

Overall (luck notwithstadning-all winners need some luck) Tarun was the most deseving and impressive overall. Even if Joe beats him.

Not a great Irish ch, but a good or very good Irish ch.

spidersweb · 10-07-2022 1:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119315082#Comment_119315082

Not the fault or concern of the player herself. Hope she wins the grading prize actually. However the notion of her participating in the Irish ch in clear violation of the rules is just pure BONKERS!

I suspect it is another case of the insidous virus that we see so prevalent now as VIRTUE SIGNALLING road to hell paved with good intentions and feelings over facts winning out.

Lesson learned is the make sure it can never hapen again with no excuses.

Nobody messed up eiither, in the sense they done exactly what they intended and wanted to do. Simple apology and an assurance it won't ever hapen again and all should be forgiven?

Joedryan · 10-07-2022 1:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119315638#Comment_119315638

Nobody messed up? Well somebody obviously did.

Lets wait to see the ICU explanations before jumping to conclusions.

corkcitychess · 10-07-2022 8:05am

Spiders web quote "Nobody messed up eiither, in the sense they done exactly what they intended and wanted to do. Simple apology and an assurance it won't ever hapen again and all should be forgiven?"

agreed with the caveat....

Nobody messed up eiither, in the sense they done exactly what they intended and wanted to do. Simple apology and an assurance it won't ever happen again and 6 lashes of the whip for whoever was at fault and all should be forgiven?

sodacat11 · 10-07-2022 9:10am

I can't say that I have any objection to Diana Mats playing, especially since she is Ukrainian, as her rating is over 1900 but it does show that once you start making autocratic decisions and straying from the ICU Constitution you leave yourself open to criticism.

I am still awaiting an answer as to how FIVE under 1900 players were admitted to the Championship when there is only provision within the rules for THREE.

As to RCL's arrogant suggestion that players can always request a bye to avoid playing the illegal entrants I ask WHY should legitimately playing ICU members who have paid over 100 euro to play (plus another 100 on petrol) have to take a bye and miss a round (which incidentally lessens their chances of winning prizes) to avoid someone who shouldn't even be in the tournament in the first place?

We never had any problem when the rating floor was simply 1900 so why are we now even entertaining this new system which apart from being completely abused by the ICU itself caused nothing but controversy and division?

sodacat11 · 10-07-2022 9:14am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119314515#Comment_119314515

I am pretty certain that RCL said at the time that the Arbiter's pick was only there to even up numbers. It would make even more sense just not to allot two ICU wildcards in the first place when it would mean that there would be an uneven number.

checknraise · 10-07-2022 9:15am

Tarun assured of equal first after a dominant performance. Can't think of any game where he was in serious trouble.

Tom's game yesterday was clinical. Taking a big risk in the opening thought to be losing by force or at best just bad for black. Tom does seem to be playing around with his playing style quite a bit which will only help him long term. Based on yesterday's game still much stronger in an open and sharp positions.

Both look to be in good form with the olympiad coming up soon.

corkcitychess · 10-07-2022 9:42am

Soda...quote..."I can't say that I have any objection to Diana Mats playing, especially since she is Ukrainian"

It is a closed national championships period.... I do not care what country she comes from and for the same reason I would not let the pope or Jesus (if he came back from the dead) enter either unless their fed was IRL.

doh.......some people.....give me a break.....

sodacat11 · 10-07-2022 10:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119315969#Comment_119315969

Yes a fully deserved title for Tarun who has not really been troubled throughout. He is practically a full time chess players these days, being coached and playing more chess annually than most pros so it will be no surprise if he becomes Ireland's first home grown GM soon.

Irish Championship 2022

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