Evening Echo, Tuesday, 25 June, 1991

ULSTER won the 1991 Interprovincial Championships held recently in Kill, Co. Kildare.
The Northerners scored a narrow 5.5-4.5 win over Munster in the semi-finals and, although held to a 5-5 draw by Leinster in the decider, they were awarded the title on board count.
In their second match, Munster scored an emphatic 8.5-1.5 victory over a combined Irish Junior Chess Association/Leinster B team.
The Munster team comprised Philip Short, Mel Kennedy, Kieran Moynihan, Colm Quigley, Kevin James, Kevin O'Shea, Ken Salmon, Frank Noonan, Paul Kiely and John Mee.
Much of the credit for Ulster's victory goes to 13-year-old Derry schoolboy Adrian Gillen who held Philip Short to a draw and defeated Leinster's international Colm Barry from a level position.
Here are two Munster wins:

As always by Jim Olney.

As a footnote: 

It was great to hear from Kevin O'Shea today who gave me the following info on the above event. "Two quick asides: I arranged a mini-bus for the mostly Cork based players that day. It broke down a number of times on the way home, always outside pubs, and to this day all the players believe it was coincidence!!? Also being quite pedantic Noel Mulholland's 23rd move was 23...Be8.

Chess Puzzle

Today's puzzle:



Another position which shouldn't be too taxing!? White to play and win.

Solution to last puzzle:
Quinteros - Sunye
San Pedro 1981
1.Rxf8! (if 1...Rxf8 2.Nd6+ wins) if 1...Kxf8 2.Rd8+ Ke7 3.Qxg5+! wins) 1-0

Cork Examiner, Tuesday, July 14, 1992

Today I'm going to begin a new feature - I'm going to present some of my press cuttings. These are by Jim Olney who has written his column for thirty years. I'll begin with an international flavour - I'll leave my prejudices for the next issue.


COLM DALY emerged as Ireland's top points earner at the recent Olympiad in Manila. The 24-year-old Leinster champion totalled 5.5/11 to register a 50% score on board two.
National title-holder Stephen Brady also achieved a 50% score with 5/10, as did Tom Clarke with 4/8.
The other individual performances were: IM Mark Orr 3.5/10 on board one, Kilian Hynes 3.5/9 and Joe Ryan 3.5/8.
The Irish side finished a disappointing 82nd in the 112 nation field with 25/56.
Individual highlights were Orr's draw with Icelandic grandmaster Margeir Petursson and some highly creative play from Daly in the following game against a 2520-rated IM:

Hope you enjoy!

Chess Puzzle

 Today's puzzle:




Nothing to complicated this time, it's just White to play and win.

Solution to last puzzle:
Tal - Bilek
Miskolc 1963
1.Rxf6 Rxf6 2.Qxe5 axb3 3.axb3
This is the really beautiful move behind the combination. White is a rook down but the pin against f6 is so powerful that there is no need to rush.
3...b6 4. b4
Preventing 4...Ra5, which would complicate matters. Now there is no stopping 5.Rf1 so Black resigned.

Hastings Congress 2010-11 Update

Sorry to say Ryan Griffiths didn't make the International masters norm this time. It was a lot to expect - a win with black against an International master in the final round.
However, it's just a matter of time and I definitely think this year Ryan will achieve at least one norm result.

Still a good performance at the Hastings tournament - well done Ryan on a good scalp and keep up the great work. Your making us proud.

Hastings Congress 2010-11 Update

Ryan Rhys Griffiths had a good day today winning a lovely game against Australian International Master Alexsandar Wohl. It was a great game to watch as Wohl realized his position was lost from very early on. He tried to complicate the game but Ryan had it all under control and the win was never in doubt.  So Ryan has 5 points after seven rounds and should have a difficult pairing in the next round.

In my opinion Black is winning from as early as move nine - what do you think?

Hastings Masters 2010-2011

It's good to see Ryan Rhys Griffiths having a nice run in the 2010-2011 Hastings Masters. After six rounds he has four points. Losing only one game: in the first round to GM Kotronias (2591). Below I give today's round (6) game in which he holds Valerly Neverov (2522) to a draw.

Nice one Ryan!! Anyone interested in the Hastings Masters or in Ryan Rhys Griffiths progress should keep an eye on the Hastings Congress site here.