Connaught-Cup

Connaught Cup – 2019 Results :
 
Semi-final between The Bish, Galway and  St. Clares, Manorhamilton.
 
Four schools qualified from the morning rounds into the semi-finals. At this point chess timers were introduced (rapid play games of up to 50 mins per game) .. 5 times champions St. Geralds,  beat Calasanctius College, Oranmore 4-2.  And The Bish” Galway also won by a score of 4 – 2 against St. Clare’s, Manorhamilton.
 
In the final “The Bish” won their first Connaught Cup, and once more the margin was 4-2, Castlebar were second.   And in the third place match St. Clare’s, who had travelled furthest to participate, were on the right side of a 4-2 score against Oranmore.
 
Picture of the semi-finals between Calasanctius & St. Geralds.
 
The Shield Section:
This is possibly the most important section.  So many Schools and students are playing their first chess tournaments in this group and they make it a great social day too. 
The top three in this section were ..  in first place St. Geralds Castlebar , and in second place (piped in a blitz paly-off ) was St. Nathy’s, Roscommon in their 2nd year of playing this event, 3rd were The Pres Athenry, who have a thriving schools chess club.  Full table below ..
 
 

Teachers Maire & Mairead taking the game scores with calm assurance.

Thanks to the teachers for taking time to give their students a day out and the opportunity to play chess and represent their schools, which they all did brilliantly.  The Hotel (The Ardilaun, Taylors Hill) praised the behaviour of the students and are talking about hosting us again next year !

2019 – Tournament Timetable:

10am Register,  3 games .. then Lunch (1pm to 1.30pm), then 2 more games with the prize giving  at 3pm.

Tournament Rules :

  • Touch move applies in all games.
  • All mobiles to be switched off.
  • All games start at the same time.
  • There’s no talking / commenting while games are in progress.
  • If a player has any question .. ask the arbiter.
  • If a team gets a “bye” they will be awarded 5 pts for this match.
  • Every team plays five matches.

The top 4 teams will play a semi-finals and finals after Lunch to decide this years Connaught Champions. 

The Shield competition will continue as a “swiss” system, where the teams with the most points play each other. The teams with the most points will be 1st , 2nd & 3rd in this section.

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Previous participants and winners – Connaught Schools Cup : conn-15 St. Geralds, Castelbar  .. with Claregalway & Presentation, Athenry.
 
Over the years the number of players on a school team has increased from 4 to 6.  And a number of schools have gone on to compete at the All Ireland schools finals.  Each year the numbers playing creeps up … in 2019  +150 students from 15 school participated.
 
 
 
 

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