MALAHIDE’S Under 16 chess team bridged a 30-year gap when winning the All-Ireland Community Games Chess Competition in University of Limerick last Saturday week.
Success was sweet for the Northside team who did their town proud.
In the semi-final, they faced the Ulster champions from Cavan. Finn Ellingboe got a quick victory to put Malahide ahead. Captain William Hackett soon added another point. Malahide now needed one more win to secure their place in the final.
Positions were looking good on the remaining boards for Malahaide and it was Darragh Flynn, seeing and executing a clever combinational tactic that demolished his opponent, who produced the necessary point.
In the final, Malahide faced the reigning champions, Ennis, and a contest worthy of the final ensued.
The Clare team got the first win but Isaac Flynn soon equalised. A draw by Darragh Flynn saw scores still level.
Ryan Bonnell, who started with a complicated and exciting opening, eventually got the upper hand and simplified the ending to put Malahide ahead.
It all now rested on the shoulders of the opposing captains. William Hackett kept his nerve in a tense and difficult position which he eventually won to give Malahide victory, 3.5 points to 1.5 points
Aisling Ní Laighleis and Gianmarco Roselli, other members of the panel, while not playing on the finals day, produced victories in the campaigns in Dublin and Leinster that brought the ultimate success to Malahide.