Chess Club

Best New or Improved Club
2nd Place 2023/2024

“Chess is beautiful enough to waste your life for.” – Hans Ree

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Chess FAQs
Should I join..?
Yes :)
How do I join for the Leinster League?
Firstly, an ICU chess membership is necessary and can be purchased through icu.ie for €20 at current student rate. The join either the A team or B team and play in the fixtures held during the year! It is a classical time format and rated, featuring 60¦30 games.
Club Schedule...
Tuesdays 6-8pm, Tsi028 Wednesdays 6-8pm, JHL5 Fridays online on chess.com (times vary- join our Whatsapp group for further details) Saturdays online on Lishogi.org (times vary- join our Whatsapp group for further details)
How can I find out more?
We have everything on our personal website: https://maynoothuniversitychessclub.weebly.com/ Everything can be found by navigating through this website including Groupchats, our Instagram account, and much more!
How do I join?
Becoming a member is simple! The entry fee is €3 for the year! This covers you for all events and activities. Simply pay online on MuLife and turn up!
What competitive aspects take place
If you're willing to delve into the sharper aspects of the game, look no further! This year (24/25) will see two teams participate in the Leinster League competition. In-house tournaments and Intervarsity events is also on the cards!
I cannot make it to the in-person events...
That's no problem at all! Our online activities held on a Friday evening and Saturday evening for this very purpose. If you're commuting or travelling far, or perhaps it is just a little too late for you, we hope you can make the online events instead!
Does the club hold lessons?
Yes! Our theory sessions are held on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm on a weekly basis!
I don't know how to play chess...
That's absolutelty fine! You don't have to be a GM to join, nor have any experience at the game to start delving into chess as a whole, Our experienced team will show you the ropes and together with our weekly acticities, this will give you a better feel for the game of chess!
What does the club do?
Hello there and welcome! We help form or a hobby or get you back into the game once again. Here at the club we cater to all aspects of chess, both casual and competitive!
Promo Video
About Chess Club

Welcome to the Maynooth Chess Club!

Everyone fell in love with The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix during lockdown. Since then, there has been an explosion of chess content, online games have skyrocketed, there are chess streamers on Twitch with tens of thousands of viewers and all because people discovered a very well kept secret:

You don’t have to be a genius to play chess. You don’t have to be a grandmaster. You don’t even have to know all the rules! As intimidating as it can seem, chess is a game for everyone, and as José Capablanca said: “You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player.” (Luckily 3 minute blitz games go by quickly…)

This year will be jam-packed with blitz nights, beginner lessons, opening tutorials, and much more. Commuters fear not, if you can’t make some of our over-the-board events we will be hosting plenty of online tourneys and friendly matches.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a child prodigy going for grandmaster, or if you just want to beat your dad. You are more than welcome to the Maynooth Chess Club, we can’t wait to see you over the board!

***SCHEDULE 2023/24:***

Tuesdays (Theory) 6pm-8pm! 

Wednesdays 6pm-8pm: John Hume Lecture 5! 

Fridays: Online on Chess.com from 7pm onwards! 

Saturdays: Online on Lishogi.org from 7pm onwards! 

Current Committee 9
President JACK PATRICK HYLAND
Secretary and Shogi Coordinator CONOR PATRICK STRICKLAND
Treasurer and Advisor JOHN MICHAEL BRADY
PRO CIARA RÓISÍN BARTELS-SHORTT
Advisor AMAL
Advisor CORMAC THOMAS MURRAY
Assist. Secretary MAKSIM ORLOV
Events Officer Ella Joyce JOYCE
Events Officer RALPH HENRY MC KEOWN

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