The 2015 Bray rapid attracted over 100 players on Sunday June 21st with players from far and wide. With strong contingent from Belfast in the persons of John Cairns, John Masterson, who made a significant impact on the event along with Michael Waters who drew with Sam Collins and had a fine attacking win against Colm Daly. However it was former Irish champion and one of Cork’s finest, Phillip Short who secured outright first with a draw in the last round to finish on 6.5 from 7. This was a great boost for the plus fifty generation of players, as Phillip is an elder without any top ten or twenty Irish player not being his junior.
Wins over David Fitzsimons and Mark Quinn underscored what a good result this was. Second place was shared jointly by Stephen Morris, Mark Quinn, and Conor O Donnell. The field included other top rated Irish players current Irish Champion Sam Collins, David Fitzsimons (5/7), Colm Daly (5/7) and Gavin Wall. More details and a cross-table will be published as soon as they are received.
A couple of videos which capture some of the drama, tension and feeling for the tournament so well and are good illustrations of the action are available on the ICU video website. With current Irish champion Sam Collins seen in action against Seamus Duffy who won the best Bray player performance prize.
The event was an excellent fun day of chess and a great prelude to the 2015 Irish Championships which starts on July 4 to July 12 and looks set to have the following players among the playing field this year:
David Fitzsimons, Stephen Jessell, Stephen Brady, Colm Daly, Phillip Short, Conor O Donnell, John Redmond, and possibly defending champion Sam Collins.
This win by Phillip Short who is the oldest player of the top tier of Irish players underscores how hard it might be to pick a winner for the Irish ch this year. A strong and very competitive event seems assured.
Created 2015-06-22 ◦ Last updated 2015-06-24 ◦ Editor CD