International Chess Master David Fitzsimons wins Irish Championship for first time 

While sports fans were spoilt for choice this summer with the European Soccer Championships, Olympics and paralympics all taking place, the only game in town for Ireland’s leading chess players was the annual Senior Chess Championship event.   

This nine round tournament took place during early August in the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan and attracted a record entry of 52 of Ireland’s leading chess players. 

International Chess Master David Fitzsimons won the event with an unbeaten score of 7.5 out of 9 (6 wins and 3 draws). 

David finished a half point ahead of his nearest challenger, the 2023 Champion, Grandmaster Alexander Baburin, to become the Irish Champion for the first time.   

David is a teacher in the Glasnevin Educate Together National School, has been playing chess since the age of 10 and enjoys coaching players of all ages. 

David’s success in the Irish Championships brings with it an automatic place on the Irish team that will participate in the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.   

He is a member of the Elm Mount Chess Club, which is based in the Artane Beaumont Family Recreation Centre. 

Elm Mount is the largest chess club on the Northside of Dublin and David is actively involved in club activities, including the popular juniors/novices night that takes place every Wednesday.  

David’s success in the Irish Chess Championships capped a very successful season for his club who are the reigning Irish Club Champions, having won the National Club Cup competition in April. 

The club also won the Leinster Chess Union’s Branagan Cup competition for the second year running in July defeating southside rivals Gonzaga in the final.