Chess club growing in popularity

Chess club growing in popularity

18 June 2025

THIRTY young people gathered in St Colmcille’s Primary School recently for the latest tournament organised by Downpatrick Chess Club.

The club has supported chess clubs in local schools and many of the children from those clubs were present, along with some from further afield.

The schools represented were Lecale Trinity Grammar School; Our Lady and St Patrick’s PS & Bunscoil Mhuire agus Phádraig; St Patrick’s PS, Saul; St Brigid’s PS, Downpatrick; St Colmille’s PS; Down High School and Killyleagh Integrated PS.

The club aims to encourage young people at all levels of ability.

The competition was split into different groups so that the young people could choose between according to their level of ability and confidence.

Seven signed up for the highest level of competition – the Kings – including a number of players with official FIDE ratings. This gave everyone competitive games and a very enjoyable experience.

Some of the groups had an odd number of players, so some of the adult members of the club stepped in and found themselves well tested against the Kings.

Results: Kings – 1st Conor Prior, 2nd Alex McKeown; Queens – 1st Katie Fegan, 2nd Ciara Prior; Knights – 1st –Jonah Boyd, 2nd Jay McDonnell; Bishops – 1st Aodhan Gazdag, 2nd Sean Connolly.

There were also two special awards. Donacha Smyth was awarded the Noble Knight for his sportsmanship and consistent support of Downpatrick Chess Club.

Kegan Mullen received an award sponsored by St Colmcille’s Primary School for their pupil that played with the best combination of ability and attitude, combining sportsmanship with skill.

Downpatrick Chess Club wishes to thank St Colmcille’s Primary School for hosting the competition, McDonalds for sponsoring the event and providing treats and free meals as prizes, and Oakley Fayre for providing sandwiches and snacks.

At the end of the season, Downpatrick Chess Club finished fourth in Division 2 of the Ulster Chess League and second in the Gold Coast Classic League.

Two members of the club have been training to be FIDE qualified arbiters, which will allow the club to run FIDE-rated events.

Downpatrick Chess Club is on a summer break, but will resume in September in the St Patrick Centre on Saturdays at 1.30pm and in Denvir’s Coching Inn on Wednesday evenings.