International Master takes home grand prize from Wexford chess tournament

Irish Independent

25-05-2025

International Master Tarun Kanyamarala came in joint 1st with Master Jacob Flynn. Meanwhile, Arthur Moull came in 3rd place and Anastasiya Kelbas was Best Woman. With a grand total of €1,000 prize fund; the first place winners took home €300 each, while third place and Best Woman were awarded €100.
Speaking after the tournament, Tournament Director and founding member of Gorey Chess Club, Mel Ó Cinnéide said, "An international master was in the top seat so he would be one of the top players in the country and it went right down to participants who had never played in a tournament.
"We were delighted with the turnout because it was our first time. It was a fabulous event and all of the comments on it were hugely positive.'
Using the Swiss Pairing System, there were seven rounds during the tournament. The first round was randomly drawn based on the players' ratings and then in subsequent rounds, players with similar scores were paired together.
The location of the tournament was key as it was held at the Loch Garman Arms, right at the heart of Gorey town. 'There were crowds hanging around between rounds, having a chat. It had a good impact on Gorey that way. A lot of people, even the guy who won it had not been in Gorey before and he was saying what a nice town it was,' said Mel.
This was the first time Gorey Chess Club held this event but after the success this year, they hope to make it an annual tournament.
One of the many perks to the game of chess, is that it's inclusive of all ages. As a result, the tournament saw people under the age of 10 compete, all the way up to people in their 70s.
'It's a great game for kids to develop their concentration and thinking. Doing maths and stuff can be boring but if kids like playing chess, they can really learn to concentrate and focus.
"Everybody was commenting on this little girl at the tournament who was totally involved in thought and focused on the tournament. There are great benefits for everyone really, even older people to keep their minds sharp,' said Mel.
Mel also mentioned one of Gorey Chess Club's founding member Seamus Halpenny who could not attend the tournament due to illness, and they wished him speedy recovery.
The Loch Garman Arms were the main sponsor of the tournament, followed by Wexford Bus and Supervalu.