Modernisation moves in chess attract a whole new fanbase

Ahead of International Chess Day on July 20, Jonathan deBurca Butler finds out if we are pawns or kings of the classic board game

Kids enjoying a game of chess at the Ficheall chess féile

Alex Baburin was just seven years old when he picked up his first pawn and advanced it one square towards his opponent’s king and queen.

“I was an only child and both my parents worked, so they would leave me with female relatives and that wasn’t too much fun for a young boy,” says the Russian. “So for me, chess was something I could do at home on my own and it was exciting. I got a chess book or two so I could play through moves. I played in imaginary tournaments against myself pretending to be this or that grandmaster. I was quite competitive so later that attracted me to competitions too and it went from there.” When Alex moved to Ireland in 1993, he was already an experienced professional and an international master.