|
Round 8
The big game from this round was without doubt the game between Stephen Brady and Sam Collins. Amazingly once again Sam, even though a pawn down in an endgame, avoided defeat from a lost position and this time even managed to emerge victorious after Stephen collapsed with a couple of fatal blunders. The game arguably decided the fate of the title of Irish champion 2002 and illustrating very well the contrast in the fortunes of the defending champion and the future champion. One capable of playing better chess but very much out of form and failing to take his chances throughout the event. The other finding himself outplayed by stronger players but hungry and determined enough to never give in, keep an optimistic frame of mind and take every chance that comes his way. The other big game of great signifigance was the game one between Mel O Cinneide and Paul Dempsey. The suprise defeat for Mel was a fatal blow for his chances of becoming 2002 Irish champion. The game started as an english opening that transposed into a hedgehog/sicilian type of position, in which White went wrong early on and after mistakes on move 16 and 20 some good play from Paul resulted in a winning position which he converted in comfort, showing good endgame technique along the way. John Joyce had a tame looking game but through clever play in the endgame easily defeated Brian Fitzpatrick. Likewise Phillip Short had an impressive and clinical win against Stephen Scannell. Better luck was to be had from fellow Ulsterman Tom Clarke who continued his belated return to some measure of form with a creative and bold effort that overcame an earlier bad position in which he was even a pawn down.
| Brady,Stephen |
0-1 |
Collins,Sam |
| Duffy,Seamus |
½-½ |
Keogh,Eamon |
| Fitzpatrick,Brian |
0-1 |
Joyce,John |
| Jeffares,Simon |
½-½ |
Brady,Cormac |
| Jessel,Stephen |
0-1 |
Fox,Anthony |
| O'Cinneide,Mel |
0-1 |
Dempsey,Paul |
| O'Connell,Gerry |
0-1 |
Clarke,Tom |
| Scannell,Stephen |
0-1 |
Short,Philip |
|
