Munster’s Finest: Kinsale Students Strike Gold at National U16 Chess Final

KCS Students Win National Gold in U16 Chess Final 

On July 5th, 2025, six talented students from Kinsale Community School proudly represented Cork and Munster at the U16 Team Chess Final in the National Community Games, held in Kilkenny. 

The KCS team delivered an outstanding performance, securing gold medals after overcoming strong opposition from Connaught and Ulster. This victory marks a remarkable back-to-back success, as the team also claimed gold in the same category in 2024. 

Members of the gold medal–winning team included: 

  • Liam Riordan, Seán Kelleher, Franco Brito,  Ákos Kardkovács, Emre Ates. Missing from photo Jer O Brien.

All six students are active members of Kinsale Chess Mates, a thriving chess club based in KCS. The club meets every Friday afternoon after school and benefits from expert coaching by Mr. Zsolt Kardkovacs, whose guidance has played an important role in nurturing the players’ skills and competitive spirit. 

This achievement highlights the dedication, teamwork, and strategic brilliance of our students, while also showcasing the growing strength of chess in Kinsale. We warmly congratulate the team on their fantastic success and thank Kinsale Chess Mates and Mr. Kardkovacs for their continued support and mentorship. 
 
The club takes place on Friday in G06 from 4-6pm and new members are always welcome. 

 

Gemma Cooper