You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2013-2014 season UCU Web 2014 Ballynafeigh 2 vs Lindores

Ballynafeigh 2 1.5-3.5 Lindores

Ballynafeigh 2's tough start to the season continues with a defeat to Lindores, but there was some entertaining chess along the way.
Ballynafeigh 2 1.5-3.5 Lindores

Top board - Horvath vs Redman

Following a 3-2 defeat to Ballynafeigh 1 in week 2, Lindores - the newly-formed Newtonards Road chess club headed by ex-Ballynafeigh man Calum Leitch - made their second trip of the season to the Ormeau Road to face Ballynafeigh's second team. With the exception of Ian Kilpatrick in place of Shane Keers on board 5, they brought the same team.

Meanwhile, Ballynafeigh 2 were being thrown in at the deep end - this would be the last of a trio of fixtures in which they would be pitted against what are probably the three strongest teams in the league - Muldoons, Fisherwick and Lindores - not to mention their week 1 opponents Belfast South, who are no slouches themselves. Still, Ballynafeigh 2 were actually fielding a team stronger than the Ballynafeigh 1 side that defeated Lindores two weeks ago, so hopes were high for the home side.

These hopes were dented early on, though, as Robert Lavery miscalculated a kingside attack and gifted a rook to Ian Kilpatrick within twenty moves to give Lindores a 1-0 lead. The match still appeared winnable, though, as Ballynafeigh 2 had built up significant clock advantages on the other four boards, with Brendan Jamison a knight up on board 4 and a kingside attack seemingly in the making for Mike Redman on board 1.

After Cunningham and Leitch agreed a draw on board 2, the home side's winning chances disappeared completely when Ross Harris put an end to Stephen Rush's winning streak on board 3. Both Redman and Jamison needed to deliver the goods in order for Ballynafeigh 2 to avoid defeat for the first time. The latter did just that, breaking down Paul McNaughton's stubborn resistance to close the gap to 2.5-1.5.

Back on board 1, Mike Redman was material up but had to contend with Gabor Horvath's dangerous queenside pawns and was getting short on time himself. They played an exciting endgame where the result was in doubt almost until the handshake, but eventually it was Horvath who claimed the win for Lindores, his pawns proving to be too strong to handle.

For Lindores, this result could prove vital for their title ambitions. For Ballynafeigh 2, the hard part of the season is essentially over - they will play whipping boys Ballynafeigh 3 next week, where anything short of a whitewash will be considered a disappointment, while there will be further ample opportunities to rack up the wins in the weeks ahead.

In the night's other match between Ballynafeigh 1 and Fruithill, David Houston was staring down the barrel of a nearly-400-point upset against Ciaran Marron, an exchange down with possibly the worst light-squared bishop in the history of bad bishops (and the match finely poised at 2-2 to boot) until Marron blundered a rook, and the game, and the match with it, to spare Ballynafeigh 1's blushes.

Navigation
News
Ulster Fischer Championships took place on June 8th at Civil Service Pavilion One of the most exciting competitions of the year involves chess with a difference. The initial position of the main pie... Jun 29, 2025
Annual General Meeting 2024/2025 2024/2025 season is rapidly coming to a close and with this comes the announcement of the UCU’s Annual General Meeting... Jun 27, 2025
Washingbay FIDE Rapid This week's upcoming event's early entry list Jun 02, 2025
City of Belfast Winners Well done to Steve Scannell our champion, and David Jeffers on winning the Intermediate trophy! May 26, 2025
The Belfast Megafinals took place at Methodist College on Sat May 10th 2025 The last of this years monthly tournaments at Methodist College. Ended with the Delancey Chess Challenge Belfast Megafin... May 25, 2025
More news…
« July 2025 »
July
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031
Upcoming Events
City of Lisburn Championship Jul 26, 2025 - Jul 27, 2025 — Lisburn Chess Club, 60-62 Longstone Street
Ulster Championships 2025 The top Ulster competition returns to open the 2025-2026 season! *FIDE registration of the event is pending.* Aug 23, 2025 - Aug 25, 2025 — Queens University, South Dinning Hall, Belfast
FIDE RATED County Tyrone Rapid Championship 2025 Wednesday 3 September 2025 Check-in at 7:45pm. The 5 rounds will be played back-to-back from 8pm to 10:30pm Washingbay... Sep 03, 2025 07:45 PM - 10:30 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
18th Sept. FIDE RATED City of Bangor Rapid Congress 2025 Rounds 1-5 10 rounds of FIDE Rapid play at City of Bangor Chess Club over 2 evenings. 5 Rounds on 18th Sept. 5 Rounds on 25th Sept. Sep 18, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
25th Sept. FIDE RATED City of Bangor Rapid Congress 2025 Rounds 6-10 10 rounds of FIDE Rapid play at City of Bangor Chess Club over 2 evenings. 5 Rounds on 18th Sept. 5 Rounds on 25th Sept. Sep 25, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
Upcoming events…