You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2006-2007 Season UCU Web Belfast & District League 2 Royals become the latest casualties to the QUB’s top guns

Royals become the latest casualties to the QUB’s top guns

On a cold Tuesday night, QUB’s hopefuls made their way to RVH for the tense league battle against the recently relegated side.
Royals become the latest casualties to the QUB’s top guns

Masterson - "playing like a goat"

RVH have been in abysmal form since relegation and are rapidly finding the demands of Division 2 chess hard to swallow. Whether this is down to over cockiness or the altering line ups and new additions is still yet to be revealed. Tonight’s epilogue will hopefully reveal the worth of these sides and the match up is being labelled as “The Battle of Division 2’s underachievers”

 QUB’s form has undoubtedly been unpredictable, but even more volatile has been RVH’s line up week- in week- out.  QUB Captain and warlock Chris Millar’s attempted guess at the RVH line up was almost as pitiable as his team’s performances this season, as Neil Fisher and Gerry Collins made their first appearances of the season. Meanwhile, for QUB Tommy Nolan replaced Vladimir Pucovsky, this modification saw Leitch and Millar move up a board each.

 The games started promptly, yet QUB were anxiously waiting on their board 2 John Masterson who arrived late due to other commitments. I think Masterson was carefully planning a dramatic entrance as he was playing against his former club; either that or he was plucking up the courage to show his good natured face. Incidentally an outsider spotted Masterson entering a Jujitsu club just a few days earlier. Perhaps Masterson wasn’t expecting a warm welcome from his former team-mates. Yet Masterson’s game ended early with a quick draw with Neil Fisher. Masterson’s lack of tiredness perhaps played a part in this and he exclaimed that he was “playing like a goat”

 Board 5 Tommy Nolan was making his second appearance of the season against Cathal Murphy. Cathal has been enjoying some success in the Fisherwick Winter Tournament, and his recent improved form showed, as he enjoyed a victory over the QUB player. Nolan is proving to be rusty due to his long gap in chess, as he lost on time in a favourable position. RVH lead 1.5-0.5

 Chris Millar has been enjoying an unbeaten start to the season and his form continued against Gerry Collins. Millar played a smooth game with the black pieces and looked in control throughout. It came as no surprise when Millar converted this into a comprehensive victory and to leave the scores tied. Millar, once again prevailing with another good performance.

 On board 3 saw a tussle between Brian Gilner of RVH and Ulster Under 19 Champion Calum Leitch of QUB. The game itself was very open and a carefully planned pawn sacrifice allowed Leitch to viciously dispatch his opponent’s defences and comfortably win. Gilner conceded that Leitch merited his victory and his impressive run of form continues. Millar must be pleased with this addition to the team and agreed that Leitch’s position on the team isn’t under threat.

 Claudio Mendicute picked up his first victory for QUB against Tony Parker. The game was a very tight affair with Mendicute obtaining a one pawn advantage going into a drawish ending. Parker’s lack of time, along with Mendicute’s precision manoeuvring forced a crucial error from Parker which resulted in a victory for Mendicute. Undoubtedly, this win serves as a huge relief for Mendicute.

 

With the final score at 3.5-1.5 to QUB, the result reflects QUB’s title ambitions and RVH’s further slip down the table. RVH must be wary of a second consecutive relegation, while QUB Captain Chris Millar must be delighted with his team’s vastly improved display.

Navigation
News
June 2023 FIDE rating report By Brendan Jamison, FIDE National Arbiter Jun 01, 2023
Strand Summer U1800 Classic - Results May 30, 2023
Annual General Meeting Announcement This year's AGM will be hosted by Fruithill Chess Club, Monday 19th June, time 7:30pm. May 18, 2023
The final Childrens Chess afternoon took place on April 1st 2023 Methodist College hosted the 5th Childrens Chess this School year. With top young chess players having an afternoon of c... May 08, 2023
We had one of our largest Childrens Chess tournaments in March 2023 With some 45 youngsters we had a fantastic afternoon of chess at Methodist College on Saturday 11th March. With 6 rounds... May 07, 2023
More news…
« June 2023 »
June
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930
Upcoming Events
Week 7 : The Annual Summer Tournament at Civil Service Social Club: Weds 14th June The Summer Tournament is at Civil Service Social Club starting Wednesday 3rd May 2023 at the Maynard Sinclair Pavilion a... Jun 14, 2023 07:30 PM - 10:45 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
AGM 2022/2023 This year's event has been confirmed to be hosted by Fruithill Chess Club Monday 19th June (time TBC). You must be a ful... Jun 19, 2023 07:30 PM - 09:30 PM — Falls Bowling Club, 63 Andersonstown Road
FIDE Rated Ulster Championships 2023 Aug 26, 2023 - Aug 28, 2023 — Elmwood Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, Elmwood Mews, Belfast BT9 6BD
FIDE Rated City of Bangor Autumn Blitz Championship 2023 Sep 14, 2023 07:30 PM - 10:15 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
FIDE Rated City of Bangor Congress 2023 Sep 23, 2023 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
Upcoming events…