Bunratty Chess Festival was held on Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th February 2008 at it's usual venue, the excellent Shannon Shamrock Hotel, Bunratty, Co Clare with 283 players participating in all the sections. It was once again superbly organised by Gerry Graham, Paul Carey, Ted Jennings and Brian Scully. The top seed and current world no. 5 ranked player Russian Super GM Peter Svidler from St. Petersburg, won the Masters Section with 5.5 points. The Challengers Section was won by Semyon Mkrtchyan of Dublin on 5 points after a blitz playoff with Paul Walsh of Limerick's Sarsfield club. The Major Section was won outright by Yoel Ferrer of Galway (ex-Havana, Cuba), with a perfect 6/6 score! The Minor Section was won by Limerick's own Stephen Cowpar on 5.5 points after a blitz playoff with Andrew Ioakimedes, with another Limerick player, Pat Coleman also in joint first. A Blitz tournament held on Sunday night at 9.30 pm was won unsurprisingly by new Bunratty '08 champion GM Peter Svidler. To see full results crosstables in all sections please visit Bunratty Festival website.
Gerry Graham(on left) relaxing at blitz after the tournament.
GM Gawain Jones(on left) playing blitz left handed.
John Cassidy(glass in hand) and Stephen Short enjoying a blitz game.
Major section winner Joel Ferrer, who scored 6/6.
Minor section winner Stephen Cowpar(Limerick).
Super GM Peter Svidler clearly enjoying himself at Bunratty blitz.
Ted Jennings v Hugh Doyle at Bunratty blitz.