A quiet revolution is taking hold in West Cork, says feature writer and chess devotee TILLY ROBERTS.

HEAVY clouds promised more lashings of rain on Sunday as players hurried through the streets of Clonakilty to take part in the West Cork Chess League at O’Donovan’s Hotel. 

In all 36 competitors gathered with three clubs represented: Clonakilty, Bandon, and Bantry.

Team mates settled in, discussed tactics, and squeezed in a few warm-up games before the clocks started.

The tournament format used was the ‘Swiss System’ with six rounds, each lasting 20 minutes (ten minutes per opponent).

I was on hand as both a competitor for Bantry Chess Club and a reporter for The Southern Star, to get the story from inside the competition.

‘There’s a great team spirit around the event,’ said tournament organiser and chairman of Clonakilty Chess Club, Oisín O’Sullivan. At 25, Oisín has already been playing chess for 15 years; his favourite strategy is the Caro-Kann defence.

He began learning at his school club, and later Clonakilty Chess Club during the summer holidays.

Now, as chairman of the Clonakilty club and organiser of the West Cork Chess League, he is inspiring and supporting the next generation of players.

‘The only way to get good at something is to keep at it,’ he said.

‘You don’t have to be good at chess to enjoy it, so the sooner you dive in, the better.’

When asked for any advice for players hoping to improve their game, Oisín recommended doing chess puzzles online to improve your tactics.

The Growing West Cork Chess Scene 

The West Cork Chess League only began last year, as a tournament between the Clonakilty and Bandon clubs.

A trophy was added to raise the stakes, and the Clonakilty club took home the first victory. 

This year, the Bantry club joined the competition. Kinsale was supposed to join, but sadly didn’t make it.

Growing numbers of chess clubs and a thirst for competition reflect the growing enthusiasm for chess locally and globally since the release of the hit Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit in 2020 and the rise of YouTube chess videos.

‘Bandon Chess Club is one of the oldest in Ireland,’ said Oisín, ‘and Clonakilty used to have a strong club in the Munster league, before the 2000s. Approximately 15 years ago Clonakilty was recreated, being the first club in West Cork for a number of years, to be followed by Bandon three years ago, Kinsale two years ago, and Bantry last year.’

From inside the Tournament  

Sunday’s tournament welcomed a great mix of ages and abilities. More than half the players were school-age, with families watching quietly from the sidelines.

When the first round began, and the clocks started the room was hushed as the opening moves flew across the board.

The hum of concentration filled the air, broken only by the occasional exclamation when someone lost a queen in a nasty skewer.

In my first match against a young boy from the Clonakilty team, we cleared each other’s pieces in under five minutes, leaving us with only our pawns and kings to fight out the endgame. I had never experienced an end game like this before.

Normally I would have a rook or another key piece left.

The game ended in a stalemate, a good result for me where I couldn’t move my pieces with a group of competitors watching us. We each got half a point and moved on to the next game.

I learned from listening to the onlookers that my opponent should have advanced his pawns to promote a queen, and I shouldn’t have sacrificed my pawns so carelessly.

It’s this aspect of the tournament that is so valuable to a chess player, learning what to do in different positions and how it feels to be in them.

During a break between matches I spoke at length with another player from the Clonakilty club Charlie Baker (12) who had just thrashed me in our recent game, said: ‘It’s great to play against higher rated opponents and get the experience.’

Charlie plays chess every morning, and his favourite opening is the Italian Game. His advice to new players trying to get better is to play people who are stronger than you are, as you will learn a lot more.

Charlie went on to win against some of Bantry’s best players, and came second overall, a very impressive result.

I enjoyed my matches.

I favoured the Vienna Gambit and took my time to consider the moves despite the pressure of the clock.

My first match had taught me a healthy respect for the clock, but also to trust my instincts as well.

On the left the Mayor of Clonakilty Conan O'Donovan presenting the West Cork Chess League trophy to Bantry Chess Club team member and top scorer Maksym Obodets, on the right.

Results and Highlights

After over three hours and six rounds of games, the results were announced: Bantry Chess Club came first with 26.5 points, followed by Clonakilty in second with 23.5, and Bandon with 20.

One standout performer was Maksym Obodets from the Bantry club, the only competitor to win all his games.

Charlie Baker, aged 12, member of the Clonakilty Chess Team pictured playing the Italian Game, his favourite opening.

Reflections

For me, the day was a great reminder of why I love chess and why it is growing in popularity in West Cork.

Every game is different, the adrenaline and excitement is so intense, and you always have something more to learn.

Then there is the community of chess players that can teach you about discipline, self-esteem, and resilience. 

As the three teams gathered together with the mayor to take a group photograph, a young toddler crawled across the floor hoping to photobomb the proceedings.

But to me it symbolised the growing interest in chess and young people’s attraction to the game.

As the rain started again for the second time that day, the players spilled back onto the streets of Clonakilty.

The West Cork Chess League trophy was left in the hands of the Bantry Chess Club until next year’s tournament, an impressive win for Bantry in their first year. 

After the successful turnout of this year’s West Cork Chess League, it looks like next year will see even more teams compete for a chance to win the trophy.

WEST CORK'S CHESS CLUBS

Bandon Chess Club 

Meets every Tuesday evening at 7pm in the Bandon Library. 

To get more information contact Martin Murphy on 083-8310112. 

Bantry Chess Club

Meets every Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 3pm in the Bridge Street Cafe in Bantry. 

For more information contact Joe O’Donoghue on 087-0578790.

Clonakilty Chess Club 

Junior club meets every Monday at 7pm with training and friendly games for an hour and a half in O’Donovan’s Hotel.

The adults meet on Thursdays at 7:30pm in the same place.