Galway Junior Chess

We are starting a new term of our online chess club on Wednesday the 3^rd of March. The term finishes on Wednesday 26^th of May and the fee for the 12 week term is €60.

We will have 3 groups based on each player’s chess level:

1. 3.30pm to 4.30pm is for Beginners (a parent should attend for the 1^st meeting to help kids with the new technology, toggle between zoom and lichess.org).
2. 5pm group is for the Improvers group.
3. 7pm group is for our Advanced players.

If your son or daughter is interested then email me your child’s name and which group you’d like him/her to start in. 

This year’s school online championships will happen near the end of our online meet ups. Galway students did brilliantly last year and hopefully this competition can give us something to focus on for the next two months.

And for anyone who want’s extra help with their chess I have availability to do some ”one 2 one” coaching.  Please email me .. brendan@chessossity.com

When: To be held on Thursdays the 13^th of May @ 4.00pm.  In advance of the grand final there will be 3 practice events on April 22^nd, 29^th and on May 6^th.  Students will be put into sections depending on their chess level. All students should play in the practice events to ensure that their rating is a good indicator of their level.

Here are the rating bands for each section:

1. Section One – Expert players with a lichess.org rating of 1600 or higher.
2. Section Two – Intermediate players with a rating over 1200 up to a rating of 1599.
3. Section Three – Novice and beginner players rated 1199 or lower.

Prizes fund of €1,500.

1. First place – 10 chess sets AND 5 chess timers for their school, All-Ireland Gold medal.
2. Second place – 10 chess sets OR 5 chess timers for their school, All-Ireland Silver medal.
3. Third place – 5 chess sets OR 3 chess timers for their school All-Ireland Bronze medal.

Grading Prizes:  There will be multiple prize winners in each section.  These will be Medal prizes. Here’s an example of the prizes for the Novice section:

• Rating band 1:  players rated under 900.
• Rating band 2:  players rated between 900 and 1000.
• Rating band 3:  players rated between 1001 and 1100.

Go to http://movesforlife.ie/ for links to these events !

If you are new to this  .. this video explains how!

For Parents see the above video.. it’s easy to join, go to the sign-in area at www.lichess.org , choose your user name and p/w. Then click on REGISTER.   Child safety:  go to https://lichess.org/account/kid and enable “kid mode” .

Go to http://movesforlife.ie/ for links to these events !

In the mixed NS Galway finals the winners were Bushy Park who came from 1.5pts behind in the last round to pass last years winners St. Pats, in third place was a young and improving Gael scoil Mhic Amhlaigh team.

The NS Girls finals was won by Clairnbridge , with Scoil Ide in 2nd place, Clairnbridge showed their strength in depth by coming in 3rd place too !

Secondary Schoools – the champions are St. Jarleth’s of Tuam. 2nd was last year winners The Bish from Galway, 3rd were Glenamaddy Secondary school & 3rd Calascantius Ortanmore.

In the challenger section – 1st Calascantius , 2nd Glenamaddy , 3rd The junior Bish team.

Entries are open for this year’s National Schools finals for mixed teams of 8 players and a separate event for girl’s teams of 4 players.

Entries to brendan@chessossity.com numbers are limited and will be allocated on a first come first registered basis.

There will be prizes for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in each competition.  Plus the best player on every team will win a star player prize too.  

And the best teams in both competitions will qualify for the All-Ireland finals in June.

Chess Tournament :

Sunday  –  2nd February  ..   2 pm  –  5 pm.

At the Bridge club,  on St. Mary’s Road, Galway.

Entry fee  –  € 10.

Every player gets 6 games with prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd.

Parents can stay to watch or return later for the prize

giving.   Kids should bring a light lunch and a drink.

Register on the day.