![]() ![]() ![]() “Gamers began to tap into it and became intrigued by it,” says Desmond. So there has been a massive return to over-the-board.”ĭesmond believes the pandemic created the perfect circumstances for people to explore new things and pursue new hobbies and it seems that one cohort in particular was suddenly drawn to the charms of the sport. The Irish Junior Championships, for example, would typically have between 100 to 150 playing in them, this year we had 300. There was a drop-off during COVID of course but it seems that lots of people took it up and now we are up to somewhere in the order of 1,700. “Before the pandemic, we had a membership of about 1,000. “Chess in this country is going very well,” says chairperson of the Irish Chess Union, Desmond Beatty. He is part of what appears to be a small revolution in the game in Ireland. It’s even harder now.”Īlex’s love of the game has seen him bring his skills and knowledge to thousands through his Chess School in Dublin. I was in the top 70 at my best and it wasn't easy to make a living back then. You’d need to be in the top 50 in the world to be reasonably OK. A part of the problem is that you can’t earn enough as an average grandmaster. It can be difficult to find time to commit to it. This is where most people just go to college and choose a career. “Another consideration is that at some point good young chess players have to decide whether to focus on a career or become professional players. If you have a broad base you can reach a high level but if you don’t, then people with talent who don’t get proper chess education, if you like, can often slip through the net.” It is getting better but there is a bit to go yet. There was only one professional teacher in Ireland when I arrived. There weren't really enough people playing, there weren’t enough coaches. ![]() He remains Ireland’s only grandmaster and believes there are several simple reasons for that: “When I arrived in Ireland, the conditions weren't there. Teachers learn chess skills at the Ficheall series of 10 beginner chess lessons It’s a bit like becoming an actuary in a way.” You play in tournaments, you get your results and you get your rating. It’s not like doing exams, but it is similar. “So I was ready to move up and I became a grandmaster in 1996 after completing the required steps. “I was one of the highest-rated international masters in the world at the time,” he recalls. ![]()
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