The IX Polish Clergy Chess Championship took place in the Higher Theological Seminary in Drohiczyn from 5 to 10 July 2010. Participating were 11 priests, a seminarian and a deacon.

The IX Polish Clergy Chess Championship was held under the patronage of the Starost of Siemiatycze, Jan Zalewski; the Mayor of Drohiczyn, Wojciech Borzym, who funded the prize cups and the „Penelopa” publishing house of Warsaw which gave the winners and participants chess literature. The tournament was organized by its originator, Fr. Stanisław Dębowski, and the Drohiczyn Diocesan Sport Chaplaincy, Fr. Krzysztof Domaraczeńko. The main referee was Zygmunt Wielecki from Gdańsk - a long-standing referee of the Championships. The average ranking of a tournament player was 1658 points. Five players were chess category II, 8 were category III, and one was category IV. Nine rounds were played, with each competitor allowed 1.5 hour per game.

The Starost of Siemiatycze opened the Championship by making the first move on a chessboard and wishing the participants a pleasant time. The participants were also greeted by the Mayor of Drohiczyn, who wished everyone a victory. In addition, Fr. Stanisław Dębowski expressed his joy at hosting the ninth consecutive championship. On the official website of the championships he says „We had the idea of organizing a tournament for clergy chess players. Most of the clergy, although they have a chess ranking, don’t consider themselves „professionals. ” Rather, they just want to play from time to time, and a chess tournament for clergy creates that opportunity. Thus, the tournament has been called the Polish Clergy Chess Championship (PCCC) from the very beginning, as it’s for clergy chess players from across Poland, and the invitations have always been addressed to the lay and religious clergy, to seminarians, and to clergy of other faiths. So far we’ve organized championships in Zakopane, Gdańsk, Radom, Lublin, Warsaw, Ł ódź, Sandomierz and Przemyśl. ” In 2010 the championships were held in Drohiczyn. The next ones are planned for Koszalin, Tarnów and Łomża.

Traditionally, there are also two side tournaments P’5 and P’15. Fr. Stanisław Bąk, three time Master of the Polish clergy in the „blitz competition”, won tournament P’5. However, tournament P’15 was won by seminarian Mateusz Kowalski from Rzeszów. Congratulations to the winners!

The Drohiczyn tournament was an excellent opportunity for clergy to get to know each other and create new friendships during the Year of the Priesthood. It was also an opportunity to pray together, celebrate the Eucharist and use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

During the Championship you could purchase chess literature from the „Penelopa” publishing house. The publishing house also provided book and „Panorama of Chess” magazine awards for tournament participants, a gracious act for which we are very thankful.

After tough competition the winner of the IX Polish Clergy Chess Championship was Fr. Stanisław Bąk. Second place went to Deacon Wiesław Ołowski and Fr. Andrzej Skarżyński was in third place. The Mayor of Drohiczyn awarded commemorative cups, diplomas and books to the winners. Subsequent places went to: 4th - seminarian Mateusz Kowalski, 5th - Fr. Andrzej Kuzio, 6th – Fr. Karol Jakubiak, 7th - Fr. Grzegorz Wiejak, 8th – Fr. Robert Rembecki, 9th - Fr. Jan Kalenik, 10th - Fr. Franciszek Grela, 11th - Fr. Stanisław Dębowski, 12th - Fr. Piotr Kubicz and 13th - Fr. Krzysztof Domaraczeńko.

The organizers warmly thank all the competitors for the beautiful and hard-fought game, Mr. Zygmunt Wielecki for refereeing, and Starost Jan Zalewski and Mayor Wojciech Borzym for sponsoring the cups. I would like to thank Mr. Jerzy Moraś for funding a large number of books and magazines and for his continuous selfless assistance. Warm thanks also to the PCCC originator and organizer Fr. Stanisław Dębowski.

We cordially invite you to the X Jubilee Polish Clergy Chess Championship in Koszalin, and to our websites: www.smpd.pl i www.dlsz.szach.net

Fr. Krzysztof Domaraczeńko
Diocese of Drohiczyn