Richard Archer (ca. 1871, Dublin – 21 February 1938, Cork) was the preeminent figure of Cork chess in the early 20th century, setting a record for dominance that remains unparalleled in the history of the Plunkett Trophy.
His competitive record is defined by his mastery of the Championship of Cork. Richard Archer won the Plunkett Trophy a record eleven times over a span of twenty-five years. His victories occurred in:
- 1909–10, 1910–11, 1915–16, 1917, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1931, 1933 (joint), and 1934–35 (joint).
His final title in the 1934–35 season was a symbolic “passing of the torch,” as he shared the victory with the rising star and future Irish Champion, Austin Bourke. Archer’s ability to remain at the pinnacle of provincial chess from the Edwardian era through to the mid-1930s serves as a testament to his enduring skill and longevity at the board.
A lifelong resident of Cork City for his adult life, Archer was a mainstay of the Cork Chess Club. He was highly regarded not only for his clinical play but for his role in maintaining the high standard of chess in Munster during the foundational years of the Irish Chess Union.
Richard Archer passed away in February 1938, just three years after his final Plunkett victory. His legacy lives on through the “Silver King” trophy he won so many times, and he remains cited in Irish chess history as the ultimate “regular champion” of the southern capital.
