Leinster Chess Union's Christmas Blitz 2016

The annual LCU Christmas Blitz took place recently in the Ierne Sports and Social Club, home of the Elm Mount Chess Club. 58 players took part in 7 all play all sections. This represented an increase on the previous year's event when around 50 players took part. There were 16 prize winners in total with Section A being won jointly by FMs David Fitzsimons (Elm Mount) and Conor O' Donnell (Gonzaga), both on unbeaten scores of 6.5/8.

The prize winners in Section B were both junior internationals with the Section won outright by Fiachra Scallan (Rathmines) on a score of 6/7 with Elm Mount's Gavin Melaugh in the runners up position on 5/7. Section C was won jointly by Gerard Buckley (Malahide) and Alex Pachalov (Balbriggan). Junior players were also the prize winners in Section D with Alex Goss (Elm Mount) winning the section on a score of 6/7 from Sean Hunter (Rathmines (5/7)).

Section E was won outright by Grzegorz Pawlowski (score of 5.5/7) with Panagiotis Papadoupolos and Conor Barrett finishing joint second on 5/7.

Section F was won by Darragh Moran (6/7) with his closest challengers being Owen Hunter and Sam Murray in joint second place on 5/7.

Nived Daniel Binu won Section G on a score of 7/9 on tie break from Cian Bergin.

Cross tables for the event can be accessed here.