“Planes Instead of Rockets in the Sky”: MTU Chess Master on Fleeing Ukraine – March 2nd, 2026

On Saturday February 21st last, MTU student Yunis Barudi set a new Irish record. The 25-year-old from Ukraine beat a national chess record that was almost 50 years old. He played 78 players at once beating the previous simultaneous chess game record set in 1977 which stood at 54. The event was to raise funds for medical rescue vehicles in Ukraine. He spoke recently to Treasa Murphy about fleeing the Russian invasion four years ago and how he has used his gifts as a chess player as a way of saying thanks to the people of Kerry.