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C.S.N. Chess Society – History
The society has been one of the longest running societies within the school. Although very little records have been kept since the beginning, I hope to obtain a vast amount before my term in C.S.N. finishes.
Year after year, the students have got better at playing and have created a respectable reputation of having one of the best sets of teams in the country (and abroad). Some of the best chess players have passed through this school, David Stynes, Joe Higgins, D.J. O’ Donoghue, and Alex Lopez. But it has been the entire society, which has bonded together to become a formidable team.
Go to:
Millfield 2001
Anyone For Chess 2002
5th Millfield International Chess Tournament
27th – 28th October 2001
A brave set of 12 students set out in the early hours of the morning, on the 26th of October to compete in the biggest championship they ever played in. Along with a tired Joe Higgins and Br. Sean, they tackled the Irish rail, Irish Sea, British rail (particularly bad), and a taxi service, before we arrived at our hotel late that night. We than spent that night, soaking in the information and strategies from Joe, for the day ahead.
Team with the prize. A small sleep later and before we knew it, the championship had begun. Two qualifying rounds later and we had been placed at the top of the major division. A brilliant performance for a team on their maiden trip to that competition. We then played the first two championship rounds and went back to the hotel that night realizing that we had it all to play for. We were winning the major championship that night and spent a lot of that night revising openings and playing friendly matches.
Grandmaster Matthew Turner presents Best Board AwardsThe next day and the team were feeling very nervous. We had gained a cushion from second place after the 3rd round, but it went very badly for us in the 4th round with just 2 points separating us from 2nd place. We went into the last round after a lot of calculating, and focused to the best of our ability, and proved successful, Although the gap was a mere ½ point.
An ecstatic team received their well deserved trophies, and Maurice O’ Donoghue, Cian O’ Riordan, and Ronan Leydon received special awards for being the best of their respective boards. A fun night was to be had by all, and everyone was kept under control.
Although the trip back was a nightmare, it didn't dampen our spirits (except for the boat crossing) and we arrived back in Cork on the 30th.
26th “Anyone for Chess” Tournament 2002A bit of a whitewash was bestowed upon Limerick's Anyone For Chess Tournament. The senior category saw the first six places going to students from Spioraid Naoimh, and the ever dominant Alex Lopez winning the junior category. On the one-day event, over twenty students from our school travelled from our school to take part. With at least eighty taking part in total, the competition was tough, but obviously not tough enough.
Results are as follows:
Senior Category: Final Placings Name 1st D.J. O' Donoghue 2nd David McCarthy 3rd Kenneth Rea =4th Seamus O’ Cathaill, Cian O' Riordan 6th Ronan Leydon
Junior Category: Final Placings Name 1st Alex Lopez ãDigiplex2002
