International Chess Masters ready to make a move in Kilkenny at flagship event this weekend

The Kilkenny International Chess Masters returns to Kilkenny from Friday to Sunday,  November 24-26  at the Ormonde Hotel and the Club House Hotel.

The Kilkenny Masters was first contested in 1993 and is the flagship event for the Kilkenny Chess Congress, which is the longest running event in the Irish chess calendar. The competition was established to bring chess grandmasters to Ireland, giving Irish players the opportunity to compete against world-class opponents.

Since its inception, more than 100 internationally recognised chess players have taken part in the tournament. This year’s event will feature eight Grand Masters and seven International Masters. 

The competition will also feature Women’s International Master, Trisha Kanyamarala, who was Irish Women’s chess champion last year. A further 260 players expected to participate across the weekend.

A unique feature of the Kilkenny Masters is the fun blitz event held on the Sunday night. The blitz gives novice players the chance to test their skills against chess grandmasters in a more relaxed, social setting. 

Speaking about the Kilkenny Masters tournament, Maurice Buckley, event organiser and chess coach said: “The Kilkenny Chess Masters is one of the highlights of the Irish chess calendar. Not only does it give Irish chess players the opportunity to compete against the world’s elite, it also benefits the local community economically and socially. 

“It is great to see this tournament go from strength to strength and the return of marquee, global players each year is testament to this. I would like to thank all our participants and wish each of them the best of luck in the competition.”

THRILLED
Jack Lowery, event organiser and chess coach, said the group was thrilled to have the Kilkenny Chess Masters return to the city for another year.

“This tournament not only brings together chess enthusiasts from around the world but showcases Kilkenny on a global stage,” he said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to witness high-level chess first-hand and for novice players, it is a rare chance to face off against seasoned grandmasters. We are excited to see the positive impact this event will have in inspiring the next generation of chess players.”

This year’s event is sponsored by CRH.