Page 121 - Gonzaga at 60
P. 121
Compeiive chess can be very hard on an innocent irst
year, paricularly when he is responsible for throwing
Above: Gonzaga at Millfield, previously called away the Leinster Minor Championship (in 1994). The
Marlwood. Below: Prague, 2002; Daniel Lynch, who has look of glee on the face of my St. Benildus opponent as
assumed Gerry’s mantle as director of chess, views the he captured a crucial pawn en passant sill haunts me
possibilities with glee
to this day. The trauma of that day would surely have
ended my chess career were it not for an hour-long
phone call from Mr Murphy later that night. There were
no recriminaions; we analysed the game in detail and
he convinced me that I sill had the makings of a chess
player. His underlying and comforing message: to throw
away a winning posiion, one must irst play well enough
to obtain a winning posiion. I never forgot Mr Murphy’s
advice and inally enjoyed my revenge ive years later
when we beat St. Benildus to win the All-Ireland Senior
Championship.
Michael Clark
Class of 1999
year, paricularly when he is responsible for throwing
Above: Gonzaga at Millfield, previously called away the Leinster Minor Championship (in 1994). The
Marlwood. Below: Prague, 2002; Daniel Lynch, who has look of glee on the face of my St. Benildus opponent as
assumed Gerry’s mantle as director of chess, views the he captured a crucial pawn en passant sill haunts me
possibilities with glee
to this day. The trauma of that day would surely have
ended my chess career were it not for an hour-long
phone call from Mr Murphy later that night. There were
no recriminaions; we analysed the game in detail and
he convinced me that I sill had the makings of a chess
player. His underlying and comforing message: to throw
away a winning posiion, one must irst play well enough
to obtain a winning posiion. I never forgot Mr Murphy’s
advice and inally enjoyed my revenge ive years later
when we beat St. Benildus to win the All-Ireland Senior
Championship.
Michael Clark
Class of 1999
