April Blitz Results

The April Blitz, held on 19 April, proved to be a triumph for youth. The winner was the youngest player, fourteen-year old Denis Ruchko, who swept all before him, winning all seven games. And second was the second-youngest, Kynesha Ryder, who is sixteen, and scored 5 points out of 7. (The oldest entrant was third, but there are no prizes for being third.) Kynesha’s performance was particularly noteworthy as, in a strong field, she was eligible for the grading prize; despite the standard rule that the grading prize is not given to anyone who wins a place prize, she was awarded the grading prize as well, in recognition of her achievement. Which is not to take anything away from Denis – who is also the current holder of the Galway Winter League title, and the (adult) Connaught champion) – who was simply in a league of his own.