By FT Darko Polimac
The Chess School Polimac started its work in 2006 with 4 students in Club House Hotel Kilkenny as a part of Kilkenny Chess Club. The FIDE Trainer Darko Polimac originally from Croatia was very keen to put Kilkenny at the World Chess map and he did it. Since then Kilkenny is proud of 14 Irish and 2 British junior chess titles, 3 Fide masters (youngest in Ireland age 13 and 16) and many juniors representing Ireland internationally. This itself is great results that no other City in Ireland and UK can match but adding that over 3000 kids learnt how to play chess with Darko in their schools is a small record itself.
For years, our junior players were among best academic achievers with top Junior and Leaving exam results and many of them are now students at prestige universities in Ireland and UK.
Our player FIDE Master Poornima Menon secured her scholarship based on great results as a chess player at her Medicine University in Dublin and we are happy that now she is a Junior Doctor. Our top players are FIDE Master Ryan Rhys Griffiths, FIDE Master Karl McPhillips, FIDE Master Dr. Poornima Menon and John Courtney, student of medicine in Dublin.
From 2010 – 2015 Darko Polimac was Junior and Development Officer of Irish Chess Union, Academy Instructor, coach of the Irish Junior Chess team and part of Selection Committee for both Junior and Senior teams. In 2015, he become only FIDE Trainer in Ireland and was elected to European Chess Union Educational Commission. In February 2016, he will participate at the conference in EU Parliament where topic will be the Chess in Schools Program. He believes that Chess should be part of the curricula in all Irish Schools and he met 2 Irish Ministers to discuss the prospect of this.
After many years, Irish Juniors were at the top at the strong international 4 nations event Glorney and Gilbert Cup.
Irish juniors won ahead England, Scotland and Wales. Irish President Mr. Higgins attended the opening ceremony and his speech was amazing as usual.
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