Limerick Open
The Limerick Open began in 1988 and has been named in memory of Philip Hogarty since 2008. Philip Hogarty, Chairperson of the Irish Chess Union, helped the Limerick Open organisers in the years before his death on 1 January 2008; read the tribute from the Limerick Open organiser.
Limerick Open 2026 (Limerick Congress)
The 2026 Limerick Open, also known as the Limerick Congress, takes place from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November 2026.
- Venue: South Court Hotel, Raheen Roundabout, Raheen, Limerick (V94 E77X), tel. 061 487 487
- Sections: Philip Hogarty O-1900 section; Intermediate (1400–1900) section; Major (Under-1400) section
- Rounds: five. Check-in 7 pm on Friday 6 November; Round 1 Friday 7.30 pm; Round 2 Saturday 10 am; Round 3 Saturday 3 pm; Round 4 Sunday 10 am; Round 5 Sunday 3 pm
- Entry fee: seniors €50, juniors (under 18) €30. Late entry after 30 October 2026: adults €60, juniors €40
- Time control: 1 hour 30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per player. FIDE rules (FIDE Handbook 2023). FIDE rated. All Irish players must be ICU members
- Arbiter: Zsolt Kardkovacs. The arbiter’s decision is final
- Prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in each section, with a perpetual trophy for the winner of the Philip Hogarty O-1900 section. Grading prizes and the prize fund will be announced; the prize pool is subject to the number of entries
- Enquiries and entries: John Cassidy, tel. 087 249 5913. Entries by post to John Cassidy, Loyola, Cusack Road, Ennis Road, Co. Clare
Accommodation
The South Court Hotel is the tournament venue and offers a reduced room rate for participants: €129 for a single room and €160 for a twin room. Tell reception that you are playing in the Limerick Chess tournament. Parking at the hotel is free, but drivers should give their car registration to reception so that they are not clamped or towed.
Other hotels: Maldron Hotel, Roxboro, Limerick (V94 EDP4), tel. 061 436100; Perys Hotel, Glentworth Street, Limerick (V94 N59K), tel. 061 413822. Bed and breakfast: White House B&B, St. Neesans Road, Gouldavoher, Raheen (V94 DY27), tel. 061 330789; Almeda B&B, Ballinacurra Road, Limerick (V94 A2KO), tel. 061 303369.
Previous years
Since 2022 the event has been held at West County Hotel, Ennis, as a 5-round Swiss with an Open section (the Philip Hogarty Open) and an Under-1400 section.
Recent Open-section winners: 2025 — joint 1st FM Stephen Jessell, FM Rory Quinn and Jamie Comley on 4.5/5 (Jessell won the blitz play-off for the perpetual trophy); 2024 — IM Oleg Gubanov, 4.5/5; 2023 — joint 1st IM Oleg Gubanov and FM Zalan Nemeth on 4.5/5 (Gubanov won the blitz play-off); 2022 — joint 1st James Naughton and Blair Connell on 4.5/5 (Naughton won the blitz play-off).
Results and reports by year: 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010. Full standings for each year, including the Under-1400 section, are published independently on chess-results.com.