You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2017-2018 season UCU Web 2017 Kelly's Heroes in pole position as Division 2 splits

Kelly's Heroes in pole position as Division 2 splits

(B&D League 2017/18 Week 11) With the pre-split fixtures now complete, the top three in Division 2 are separated by just four points, while Muldoons 1's inexorable march towards the Silver King continues unabated as they thrash The A Team.

Division 1

 

  • Muldoons 1 4-1 The A Team
  • Strand 1 3.5-1.5 Strand 2

 

Despite a shock defeat for Nicholas Pilkiewicz (1851) at the hands of Bobby Thompson (1476), leaders Muldoons 1 had an easy time against The A Team, as Stephen Morgan, Gareth Annesley, Stephen Wood and Danny Mallaghan racked up the wins to put themselves 12.5 points ahead of Strand 2, who remain in a surprising second place despite a 3.5-1.5 defeat by Strand 1. Brendan Jamison, Daniil Zelenchuk and Edward Khanzharov all drew for Strand 2 against players rated well over 200 points higher (over 400 in Khanzharov's case) - in that context, Strand 2's excellent performance over the course of the season is somewhat less surprising. The other scheduled match this week, Ballynafeigh 1 vs Ballynafeigh 2, was postponed.

PlayedPoints
Muldoons 1 8 46.5
Strand 2 8 34
Strand 1 7 33
Civil Service 8 26
Ballynafeigh 1 7 25
Ballynafeigh 2 7 10.5
The A Team 8 9

Division 2

 

 

  • Ballynafeigh 3 2-3 Muldoons 2
  • Strand 3 5-0 Ballynafeigh 4
  • Strand 4 3-2 Bangor
  • Ballynafeigh 4 4-1 Fruithill Ravens
  • Ballynafeigh 4 0-5 Bangor

 

 

With leading side Kelly's Heroes having completed their pre-split fixtures, Bangor still had a slim chance at sneaking into top spot - they needed 13 points in total from their two remaining matches. They were helped by the cancellation of their postponed match against Ballynafeigh 4, from which they claimed full points, but a shock defeat to Strand 4 means the Marlborough Park North side hold a 3.5 point lead going into the final phase of the season. The match included the upset of the week as Jake Patterson (1127) beat Sam Moore (1562), with Geoff Hindley (1036) beating Walter Wilson (1341) and the unrated Calvin Patterson beating Alwyn Pollock (930) to seal a great win. Strand 3 whitewashed Ballynafeigh 4 and Muldoons 2 claimed a narrow win over Ballynafeigh 3 in the week's other scheduled matches, while in the last remaining postponed match, Ballynafeigh 4 beat the Fruithill Ravens 4-1.

PlayedPoints
Kelly's Heroes 8 43
Bangor 8 39.5
Muldoons 2 8 39
Strand 4 8 30.5
Fruithill 8 30
Ballynafeigh 3 8 29
Strand 3 8 22.5
Ballynafeigh 4 8 13
Fruithill Ravens 8 4.5

The division will now split into three subdivisions of three teams each, playing each other twice:

 

  • Division 2: Kelly's Heroes, Bangor, Muldoons 2
  • Division 3: Strand 4, Fruithill, Ballynafeigh 3
  • Division 4: Strand 3, Ballynafeigh 4, Fruithill Ravens

 

Divisions 2 and 3 look very competitive, with the teams in each division separated by just four and 1.5 points respectively; Division 4 looks a little more cut and dried, with Strand 3 leading by 9.5 points.

Navigation
News
Join the FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge 2025 – Every Move Counts! A message from The FIDE Social Commission Team:- FIDE has made 2025 the Year of Social Chess and invites you to particip... Apr 28, 2025
Final Standings for the 2025 Childrens Chess Grandprix With the April Childrens Chess completed we have the final standings for the 2025 Grandprix. The top four of each sectio... Apr 26, 2025
UCU League 2024/25 final tables and board prizes Report on the UCU Belfast & District League 2024/25 Apr 20, 2025
City Of Bangor Chess Club hosted the Ulster Team Rapidplay Championship 2024/25 The Ulster Chess Team Rapidplay Championships are run every two years. Top players and team travelled to the fantastic B... Apr 16, 2025
Aprils Monthly Childrens Chess Tournament at Methodist College On April 12th 2025 Children from all over Ulster meet at Methodist College to play brilliant chess at the Ulster Chess U... Apr 16, 2025
More news…
« May 2025 »
May
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
Upcoming Events
The Summer Tournament Weds 21st May at Civil Service Pavilion Weds 21st May and the 3rd Week. The aim is to start each round at 7.45 pm. Please arrive at least by 7:30pm and if arriv... May 21, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
GM Simul with Alex Baburin May 23, 2025 06:30 PM - 11:00 PM — Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Belfast
FIDE RATED City of Belfast Classic Championship 2025 Sat 24th May, Sun 25th May, Mon 26th May Venue: Castleview Suite, Maynard Sinclair Sports Pavilion, Upper Newtownards R... May 24, 2025 - May 26, 2025 — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
FIDE RATED Belfast Blitz Championship 2025 May 24, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — Castleview Suite, Maynard Sinclair Sports Pavilion, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2025 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Sunday 8th June at the Civil Service Pavilion. Jun 08, 2025 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
Upcoming events…