While one is loath to open up the can of worms that is Irish chess from the mid 90s onwards - the legacy of which is still very much felt today [just compare who are some of the key figures then as now?] it is nevertheless always worth getting the facts right, and to that end, one would have to wonder how on earth such an amazing theory should surface after 15 years of living in Ireland. More so considering the complete lack of detail or evidence to back up such an assertion.

It is true that most people would indeed find it a truly remarkable fact that despite living here in Ireland for over 15 years, a player of Alexander Baburins strength had not even once played in an Irish Championships and so his explanation no doubt would be of interest to many? Sadly this explanation seems to have so little basis in fact as to be quite funny and perhaps the product of a tortured soul who feels Irish chess has somehow wronged him?

This would be incredible if true, but I have to confess that I had always assumed that Alexander didn't play in the Irish Championships because the fear of not winning it far outweighed any gain of actually winning it? After all, I recall Alexander actually telling me back then in 1997 that in relation to a 1997 IM norm event being organised by the LCU, in which he was offered what I thought were good conditions, he felt that Irish players were underrated and so it was best to protect his [Fide] rating, or at least not bother with what would be a very hard task with little to gain in terms of rating.

I respected and understood that, but I never really fully understood his choice never to play in an Irish Championships and it is indeed an irony that he only now played in an event of that name when the event itself has become a completely different tournament. Personally I was always of the mind that he had so much to offer by way of his participation that I don't think people were too preoccupied with IM norm considerations, for as Alexander says himself, norms would require many titled players and I think most keen chess players just would have relished the prospect of so many good clashes between so many of Ireland best players.

Sadly even now with all the sponsorship for the Irish ch, only two players from the top ten actually participated, which was actually slightly worse than last year. While last year we had one member of the Irish Olympiad team participate, this year that was the same. As was said to me during the event which may perhaps be a bit unfair. “Never in Irish chess was so little achieved with so much” well it sounds funny but I don't know how accurate or fair it is. I should also add that I do not mean to be critical of anyones choice not to play in the Irish ch as we all have our own priorities and lives to lead.