Title shared in the case of a tie between two players, but one player to win outright on tie-break in the case of a tie between three or more players. Tie-break method in case of a tie between three or more players was the ICU 1990 rules (Buchholz, followed by Median Buchholz, followed by Direct Encounter, followed by average rating of opponents with various cuts) (see Sources and Notes).
Time control
40 moves in two hours, then 20 moves in one hour, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game
The prize for best game went to Richard O'Donovan for Heidenfeld - O'Donovan, round 3
Sponsor
Morris Insulation
Concurrent events
Irish Intermediate Championship 1996, July 12-14. 1st Danny Roberts. 6 rounds.
Irish Junior Championship 1996, July 12-14. 1st Simon Jeffares. 6 rounds.
Irish Championship Weekender 1996, July 6-7. 1st Alexander Baburin.
Games available
105, including at least 1 incomplete (see Notes)
References
Sources and notes. If you have any other documents, reports, references, biographical information, annotations or (in particular) photos, please .
Tournament review
“In the tightest finish for several years, three players tied for first at the Morris Insulations Irish Senior championship in Dublin last weekend. Final round wins by Tom Clarke (black against Mark Heidenfeld), Richard O'Donovan (black against Gerry O'Connell) and Colm Daly (white against overnight leader Mark Quinn) left the three victors on 6.5/9 half-a-point clear of the field. On tiebreak, the official 1996 Irish champion is Richard O'Donovan who had a remarkable tournament starting with five straight wins, then losing two games in a row before recovering to post a draw and a win in the concluding rounds. The surprise champion also picked up the best game prize for his win against Heidenfeld. Tom Clarke opted for a different route to shared first starting modestly but finishing with four straight wins. His welcome return to form included an important novelty in the French Defence Advance Variation used to victorious effect against this correspondent and a fascinating endgame struggle in which he prevailed over co-winner O'Donovan. Finally, and not before time, Colm Daly managed to get his name on the trophy after a protracted bout of strategic attrition against number one seed Mark Quinn in the last game of the tournament to finish. Nineteen-year-old Quinn will undoubtedly have his day in years to come while Daly has gone a long way to banishing the ghosts of previous years notably 1993 when the title slipped out of his hands in the seventh hour.
RESULTS: Morris Insulations Irish Senior Championship, July 6-14, Dublin. Jt lst R.O'Donovan 2215 T.Clarke 2225 C.Daly 2295 6.5/9