2005 Irish Schools Interprovincials
Unfortunately, despite another noticeable improvement in the results and performances of the increasingly strong Ulster U19 and U16 teams from the previous year, both teams narrowly finished last in their section.
The Under 19s finished on 7.5/18, behind Leinster with 9.5/18 and Munster with 10/18. The Under 16s finished on 8.5/18 behind Leinster on 9.5/18 in a section consisting of just two provinces.
Under 19 Section
The Ulster panel, which employed a rotation system to fill the six boards, consisted of the following eight players:
David Gryzmek (1774) Sullivan,
Calum Leitch (1687) Campbell,
Shane Keers (1634) Sullivan,
Chris Millar (1566) (captain) MCB,
Philip Todd (1523) Bangor,
Ryan Murray (1505) MCB,
David Symington (1404) RBAI,
William Stewart (U/g) RBAI
Round 1
Shane Keers (1634) 0 - 1 Kevin O'Flagherty (M) (1530)
Graham Neary (1568) (L) 0 - 1 David Gryzmek (1774)
Chris Millar (1566) 0.5 - 0.5 Robbie Lunn (L) (1657)
James Vaughan (M) (1468) 0.5 - 0.5 Calum Leitch (1687)
David Symington (1404) 0 - 1 Emily Alfred (M) (1334)
William Stewart (U/g) 0 - 1 Rory Delaney (L) (1571)
- Munster = 5
- Leinster = 2
- Ulster = 2
The first round results were a little disappointing for the Ulster team - in part due to some unfortunate and unexpected dropped points against what already appeared to be a significantly underrated Munster team. However, as the Ulster and Leinster teams appeared the strongest on paper and with two rounds still remaining, all hope of a rare interprovincial Ulster success was not lost.
David Symington's loss on time was paricularly unlucky - he saw his flag fall just two moves away from checkmating his Munster opponent. A reverse in this result alone would have left Ulster just a point behind the leaders and a point clear of champions and favourites Leinster. Meanwhile Shane Keers and William Stewart lost close games against tough oppostion while Chris Millar could only draw despite an advantage against 1657 rated Robbie Lunn due to imminent time pressure. David Gryzmek recovered from a difficult position against Leinster's Graham Neary to secure a valuable Ulster point while Calum Leitch's hard fought game ended in a draw as both players ran extremely short of time.
Round 2
Graham Neary (L) (1568) 0.5 - 0.5 Shane Keers (1634)
David Gryzmek (1774) 1 - 0 John Perrott (M) (1415)
Paul O'Flagherty (M) (1393) 0.5 - 0.5 Chris Millar (1566)
Calum Leitch (1687) 1 - 0 Robbie Lunn (L) (1657)
Rory Delaney (L) (1571) 1 - 0 Ryan Murray (1505)
Philip Todd (1523) 0 - 1 Paudie Humphreys (M) (1184)
- Munster 5+3 = 8
- Leinster 2+3 = 5
- Ulster 2+3 = 5
The second round saw the installment of Ryan Murray and Philip Todd on to the bottom two Ulster boards. Unfortunately, however, this didn't produce a dramatic change in Ulster fortunes. Philip Todd, largely as a result of the unfamiliarity of the schools competition atmosphere, quickly lost against a weaker opponent - exactly the same happened to Richard Morrow on his Ulster debut last year. Calum Leitch secured his first win of the tournament with a victory over the Leinster team's highest rated player and David Gryzmek enjoyed an impressively comfortable win over the Munster second board. Shane Keers also got off the mark with a commendable draw as black. Chris Millar's game ended in some controversy as a result of perfectly honest, but perhaps slightly unusual, arbiter interference which may be the subject of an ICU appeal. Had the game resulted in an Ulster win, the team would have been just two rather than three points behind leaders Munster.
Round 3
John McMorrow (L) (1641) 1 - 0 Shane Keers (1634)
David Gryzmek (1774) 1 - 0 Kevin O'Flagherty (M) (1530)
James Vaughan (M) (1468) 1 - 0 David Symington (1404)
Calum Leitch (1687) 0.5 - 0.5 Phil Hogarty (L) (1408)
Darren McCabe (L) (1542) 1 - 0 Ryan Murray (1505)
Philip Todd (1523) 1 - 0 Emily Alfred (M) (1334)
- Leinster = 4.5
- Ulster = 2.5
- Munster = 2
After Chris Millar's second round match, he stepped aside to allow David Symington to return to the team while Ryan Murray and Philip Todd continued on boards five and six.
Despite David Gryzmek's third win from three games and a fine attacking Morra Gambit victory for Philip Todd, the planned final round Ulster comeback didn't quite materalise. David Symington was again unlucky to lose, this time being checkmated after achieveing a drawn endgame. Ryan Murray lost another well-contested game against the Leinster captain, Darren McCabe, while Calum Leitch had to settle for a draw against 1408 rated Phil Hogarty.
Final Standings
- Munster = 10
- Leinster = 9.5
- Ulster = 7.5
Under 16 section
- Leinster 9.5/18
- Ulster 8.5/18
As the final standings indicate, the under sixteen teams were also extremely well-matched. The scores of each Ulster player were:
1. Frank Wu (U/g) 0/1
Leon Hulleman (1445) Derry 0/2
2. Richard Montgomery (1355) Sullivan 2/3
3. Ananda Srinivasan (1367) MCB 2/3
4. Andrew Wright (1314) (captain) MCB 0.5/3
5. Simon Wright (U/g) 1/3
6. Robin Brown (U/g) 3/3
