Season Reports
QUB March On After Humbling Hillsborough
Back in November, a mere four weeks into the chess season, QUB suffered dropped bonus points for the second week in succession, drawing against Portadown in the Peter Froggatt Centre. At this stage confidence in the under-achieving Galacticos was dwindling, with their stock crashing to an all-time low. However, rather than feeling sorry for themselves, the university outfit, evidently taking inspiration from their captain, embarked on a six-match winning streak. This run has brought them to the summit of the league, but with the finishing post growing ever-closer, a steadily improving Hillsborough side stood in their way. With players of the calibre of Bruce Maclean and David McAlister in the visitor's line-up, the league leaders were not expecting an easy ride.
University Men Close In On Title Glory
With the protest withdrawal of both Bangor Winston and Groomsport from the league last Thursday, round 12 of the race to claim the coveted John Strawbridge Cup was set against a backdrop of administrative confusion. Nobody is quite sure what the precise impact of the withdrawals upon point totals are as yet, but the key facts remain satisfactorily clear – QUB enjoy a comfortable lead over nearest rivals Malone, with a Devon Loch collapse necessary for league glory to be snatched from the grasp of Millar’s Mob.
Malone stumble at Hillsborough
The battle for first place in Division 2 continued on Tuesday 20th February with the top two teams having away matches. Leaders QUB travelled to Portadown (reported on elsewhere on this website) while second-placed Fisherwick were hosted by Hillsborough.
No RVH Resistance as John Strawbridge Cup Heads to Queen's
Queen's complete the 2006/07 season as winners of the Belfast & District League 2. The final act of the University men in lifting the John Strawbrige Cup and sealing promotion to Division 1 was undramatic - RVH had the good manners to leave the QUB side with a free night to pose for the cameras and celebrate their success.
Tom Clarke
Bangor Chess Club tribute to Tom Clarke
City of Belfast Championships 2007
The Belfast Boat Club hosted the City of Belfast Championships 2007, with the event dividing competitors into separate sections to fight it out for the Nemztov and Henderson Cups. As is becoming the norm, and ever increasingly so, the tournament witnessed excellent results for QUB players. QUB summer signing Steve Scannell finished half a point ahead of the rest of the field in the Nemztov, while Chris Millar did likewise to lift the Henderson Cup.
Irish Junior & Intermediate Championships 2007
QUB players Chris Millar and Calum Leitch enjoyed success in the Irish Championships 2007, held in O'Connell Street's Royal Dublin Hotel during the last weekend in June. Millar finished clear first in his field to become Irish Junior Champion, while Leitch's performance in the Intermediate section earned him a Glorney Cup invite. Queen's Steve Scannell enters the Irish Open next weekend as one of the leading seeds.
City of Dublin Championships 2007
The 2007 City of Dublin Chess Championships were held over the weekend of Friday 31st August to Sunday 2nd September in An Oige, Dublin, home of the Phibsborough Chess Club. Seven Belfast players made the trip south - Gareth Annesley, Nicholas Pilkiewicz and Danny Mallaghan of Clifton House; Calum Leitch and Chris Millar of QUB and Joseph Mordeno plus Cathal Murphy from the RVH club.
Ulster’s Remarkable Under 19-s Retain Inteprovincials
One year on from Ulster’s astonishing tiebreak win over Leinster, the Interprovincials both Under 19 and Under 16 were to be held in Galway at its main university over the 17th and 18th February 2007.
Ulster become All-Ireland Under 19 Champions 2006
The Ulster Under 19 team narrowly defeated their Leinster counterparts to become All-Ireland Interprovincial champions for the first time in more than ten years.
Civil Service Summer Tournament
April-September 2006
Portadown Rapidplay Open
Portadown Chess Club held a five-round rapidplay tournament on Sunday 20th May 2007 at Portadown Rugby Club.
