Strawbridge Cup remains on Ormeau Road as Civil Service end QUB 2's hopes

Division 1

• Ballynafeigh 2 2.5-2.5 The A Team

It remains tight at the bottom of Division 1 as Ballynafeigh 2 and The A Team fought to a draw. The top two boards, Flanagan-Pavlov and Lavery-Devenney were both relatively quick draws, but the visitors took the lead as John McKenna defeated James Barbour, breaking through on the queenside after having a rather shaky-looking position earlier on. The Malone Road side appeared to be in good shape to extend their lead as David Ruben went material up against John O'Doherty, but Ruben couldn't press home his advantage and had to settle for a draw. In the last remaining game, Eoin Carey was on the attack against Graeme McCormick, but had spent a lot of time getting to that position and found himself in time trouble. He held his nerve, though, and won to give the home side a vital share of the bonus points.

The week's other scheduled match, the top-of-the-table clash between Muldoons 1 and Ballynafeigh 1, was postponed.

Division 2

• Fruithill 2-3 Ballynafeigh 3
• Ballynafeigh 4 1.5-3.5 Muldoons 2
• Kelly's Heroes 3-2 Bangor Webbs
• Civil Service 4-1 QUB 2

In what has been a familiar theme this season, the Zelenchuks, father Dmitry and son Daniil, carried Ballynafeigh 3 to victory against Fruithill on Monday night. They beat Gerry Collins and Frank Carrothers respectively, ensuring the bonus points for the away side despite Ciaran Marron's win over Edward Doak. The result meant that second-placed QUB 2, playing Civil Service on Thursday night, needed to score at least two points to mathematically remain in contention for the John Strawbridge Cup. The Stormont-based side, however, fielded one of the strongest Division 2 line-ups of the season so far with an average rating of well over 1500, and won 4-1, ensuring that the Strawbridge Cup remains at Ballynafeigh Community House for another year, with only Samuel Ngieng scoring for the visitors. In the week's other matches, despite the best efforts of Garhy Aboelsoud (1272) who pulled off an upset of the season contender against Steven Eachus (1868) Ballynafeigh 4 went down 3.5-1.5 to Muldoons 2 in a potential relegation decider, while Kelly's Heroes narrowly beat the Bangor Webbs.

Division 3

• Ballynafeigh 6 5-0 Ballynafeigh 7
• Ballynafeigh 5 0-5 QUB 4

Ballynafeigh 7 look like clear favourites for the wooden spoon as they were whitewashed by Ballynafeigh 6 and Ballynafeigh 5 forfeit their match against QUB 4.