This article is from page 36 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
MEMBERS of the Ennis Chess Club will travel to Greece in October to represent Ireland at the European Club Chess Championships.
The eight strong team of Ray Quinn, Kieran O’Brien, Gerry Casey, Lorcan O’ Toole, Gawain Jones, John Cassidy, Mick Larter and Jan Sodo- ma, will compete against Europe’s best over seven days from October 17 to 24. The tournament will be staged in the Greek town of Kalithea and brings together the continent’s top grandmasters. Ennis will be flying the flag for Ireland in Greece along with Dublin club Phibsboro.
It isn’t the first time that the Ennis
chess club has competed at this level. The club will be aiming to replicate the success of last year when finish- ing in a highly creditable second place, in it’s category, at the Euro- pean Championships in Italy.
John Cassidy was part of the team that travelled to Italy. He acknowl- edges a stiff challenge awaits the team in Greece but is hoping Ennis can again compete with the best.
“It’s going to be very tough alright, we know that from last year,’ he SIBKeAI SLO
“But we’re lucky in the sense that we’ve got come very good players. Jan Sodoma, 1s one of the new lads. He’s from the Czech republic and he plays to a very high standard. The
teams that will be there are of a very high standard. We’re looking for- ward to it alright.”
He added, “Lorcan is originally from Galway and he has been play- ing with us for a good while now. Gawain, was in school in Flannans here for a few years. He’s only 18, but he’s already a grandmaster. We have some good players going with us over there.”
There was touch of good fortune about Ennis’ qualification attempts for Greece. Ennis were granted a place after three teams that finished higher ahead of them at the National Championship’s in Dublin in June, BLASTN KeAL A
John explained, ““We were asked to
fill in and take the spot in Greece and we were happy to do so. It is ourselves and Phibsboro from Dublinwho’ll be representing Ireland.”
Ennis will warm up for the Euro- pean Championships by competing at the Galway Chess Tournament on October 4.
A series of table quizzes are also being planned in advance of Octo- ber’s trip to Greece. The next one takes place in Brandon’s Bar, Ennis on Thursday October 2 at 9pm. The cost of entry is ©20 per team.
Good prizes, finger food and raffle on the night and all are welcome to attend. The Ennis Chess Club meets in Brandon’s Bar every ‘Tuesday night.