QUB keep pace with leaders

Division 1

• Muldoons 1 2.5-2.5 QUB 1
• Ballynafeigh 1 2-3 CS Lewis Lions
• Bangor Groomsport 1.5-3.5 The A Team

After taking down an admittedly-Horvathless CS Lewis Lions in week 2, QUB 1 pulled off an equally impressive feat in drawing with a full-strength Muldoons 1 team on Monday night. This was achieved thanks to a draw for Ram Rajan (1234) against Des Moreland (1675) and wins for Samuel Ngieng (1552) against Danny Mallaghan (1783) and (in the upset of the season so far) Callum Ormerod (1682) over Gareth Annesley (1927).

In contrast, two of the pre-season favourites, the CS Lewis Lions and reigning champions Ballynafeigh 1, found themselves in the bottom two places going into their match on Tuesday night. The visitors came out on top by a 3-2 margin, leaving the champions as the last remaining team on 0/3. Last but not least, The A Team moved to within one point of the lead with a 3.5-1.5 win over Bangor Groomsport.

Division 2

• Kelly's Heroes 3-2 Ballynafeigh 2
• NI Civil Service 3-2 Muldoons 2
• CS Lewis Witches 2.5-2.5 Fruithill

Ballynafeigh 2 were severely under-strength for their top of the table clash with Kelly's Heroes; outrated by nearly 300 points on each board, the visitors faced an uphill struggle to get anything from this match. They almost did; after Chris Kelly agreed a quick draw with Graeme McCormick and William Storey defeated Derek Truesdale, there was controversy on board 5 as James Shaw (844), in a strong position against Cathal Murphy (1271), picked up a pawn to capture it, before realising that it was defended. In accordance with the Laws of Chess, however, he had to capture it - and the only available piece to capture it with was the queen. James Barbour (915) restored some hope with a fine victory over Craig Stevenson (no official rating as yet, but performances so far would put him around the 1400 mark), but on board 2, the only board on which the home side were outrated, John McKenna drew with Robert Lavery in a game which never seriously appeared to be in danger of being won by either player.

Elsewhere, NICS beat Muldoons 2 (with Adrian Dornford-Smith and Geoff Hindley holding much higher-rated opposition to draws on the lower boards) while the CS Lewis Witches drew with Fruithill.

Division 3

• QUB 3 1-4 Ballynafeigh 4
• Andrew's Army 4-1 Ballynafeigh 3
• Bangor Wannabees 0-5 QUB 2

QUB 2 extended their lead at the top of Division 3 after a whitewash over the Bangor Wannabees; there were also convincing wins for Andrew's Army and Ballynafeigh 4.