Philip Michael Short (15 May 1960, Cork – 31 August 2018, Co. Galway) was one of Ireland’s most distinguished chess players, emerging as a formidable competitor in Irish chess during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
His record is truly exceptional. Philip won the Irish Chess Championship five times — in 1981 (joint), 1986 (joint), 1988 (clear winner), 2015 (joint), and 2017 (joint) — and also finished joint first in 1982. The 36-year span between his first and last titles remains one of the longest in Irish chess history. He also achieved an International Master (IM) norm in 2017, at the Irish Championship.
He represented Ireland twice at the Chess Olympiads (in 1982 and 1986, played on Board 3) and was awarded by the FIDE Master title in 1990. He participated in the European Chess Club Cup (representing Douglas Chess Club) in 1993 and 1997.
Among his many domestic successes, he won the Munster Individual Championship in 1989, 1991, and 1993, and after moving to Galway, he became Champion of Connacht in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. He also triumphed in several of Ireland’s most prestigious tournaments, including the Kilkenny Congress (1977, 1979, 1980), Mulcahy Memorial (1984, 1991, 1993), and the Cork Chess Congress (1994).
Philip Short remained active in competitive chess until his final years, passing away just three weeks after playing in the 2018 Irish Championship. Beyond his many achievements, he was deeply respected for his sportsmanship, kindness, and warmth toward fellow players. Philip was deeply embedded in the chess community, not only through his competitive achievements but also as a mentor and friend to many. There are anecdotal mentions that he continued to record his games using descriptive notation long after FIDE officially discontinued it in 1981 — a small but characteristic mark of his individuality and enduring love for the game.
Please, check one of his many brilliant games against the much higher rated Alexander Baburin (played in Kilkenny, 2013 in Round 4).
