You are here: Home Membership Clubs QUB Club News League reports Belfast & District League 2007-2008 UCU Division 1 2007/08 Preview

UCU Division 1 2007/08 Preview

With the 2007/08 Belfast & District League now imminent, Chris Millar offers a pre-season outlook on the landscape of Division 1 from a Queen's perspective.
UCU Division 1 2007/08 Preview

The "Silver King" trophy

After last season's dominant march to claim Division 2 and the John Strawbridge Cup, 2007/08 sees Queen's face a very different proposition. Now in Belfast & District League Division 1, the Premier League of Ulster Chess, Queen's elite chess players are set to enter a title race which promises to be among the closest for several years. Can the QUB Chess project, instigated by Chris Millar in 2005, achieve its ambitious goal of adding the highest domestic club title on offer to the club's Irish Intervarsity triumph?

Best practice suggests one must first examine the teams most likely to stand in the way of the University men.

Top of the list, undoubtedly, and probably just about favourites for the title and "Silver King" trophy, are Danny "familiar face" Mallaghan's Clifton House. With QUB Open winner Steve Morgan, Gareth "the big man" Annesley and Nicholas Pilkiewicz all on board - in addition to their aforementioned captain - they look in excellent shape. Clifton will certainly be planning to retain the Silver King for a remarkable fourth season on the bounce.

The almost definite return of Fisherwick is also glowing brightly on the QUB radar. 2006 joint Ulster Champion Michael Waters will lead their pursuit of the title of course, accompanied by the experience and skill of Kieran Greer and former Irish Champion Ray Devenney. As always, Fisherwick will additionally have mass ranks of Division 1 experience in reserve to call upon for the lower boards.

Furthermore, North Belfast must not be overlooked. David Houston ended last season as the Division's Board 1 prize-winner, Adrian Skelton continues to play regularly and Eamonn Walls - now a Queen's student as it happens - clocked up the highest percentage on board 3 in the top flight last year. That trio, when teamed with the Woods brothers, has more than enough to challenge any of the other sides.

Civil Service could well feature in Division 1 again next year, despite finishing bottom of the league last season. It seems they will reappear with a new venue and name, however, with Chris Kelly now captaining the Belfast Boat Club based "Lagan". The exact make-up of the playing squad remains unknown as yet.

QUB had been hoping to build upon the strong core of their Division 2 winning side - full of Division 1 standard quality as it was - by adding just one other top-drawer player. However, these plans were dealt a massive blow by the news that not only would Ulster Intermediate and Under 19 Champion Cal Leitch be spending most of his next year "studying" in Preston University, as had long been suspected, but also that the 2000 Fide-rated and Division 2 Board 1 prize-winner Claudio Mendicute was to make a premature return to sunny Spain. It would have been extremely remiss of the QUB captain to allow such bedrocks of the side to go without making major additions to his team's panel. Rivals may be dismayed to note that such a myopic mishap has not befallen your author.

First up was the summer signing of Ulster Champion and six-times Williamson Shield winner, Steve "Real American" Scannell. The Yank has been among Ulster's most consistent performers and prolific winners over the last decade. Having this year already lifted the Williamson Shield, Nemztov Cup and Ulster Championship crown, he looks as likely as ever to continue in the same rich vein of form. This is not to suggest that Scannell is likely to find this league season anything less than arduous - the likes of Waters, Annesley, Morgan and Houston will probably make up the formidable opposition he is set to face on board 1.

Next in to the QUB ranks arrived Ian "Dragonslayer" Davis. Davis is undeniably a player with considerable Ulster Chess pedigree - competitive wins over the likes of Michael Waters and Steve Scannell are already under his belt. Ian also played a crucial role in the Methody side which famously won the Times British Schools Championship back in 1995. Add to this the fact Ian comes blessed with good omens, having played as top board in the Malone side which won 16/16 games to claim Division 2 just a few years ago. That won't happen for QUB this year (a half point overall win would be plenty), but the Dragonslayer's performance and under 1800 grading prize in the Nemztov Cup illustrates the permanency of class.

The two new arrivals join the remainder of the panel which enjoyed success last season: John "Maestro" Masterson, the Slovak Vladimir Pucovsky, Fred "Hollywood" MacDonald (aka Fred "the Russian" MacDonald - at least when William McGrattan is present) and the inspirational captain fantastic, Chris Millar.  Further additions to the QUB squad could well be made yet.

So, roll on the new season. Why not take a look at the 30 second trailer available here:

http://quis.qub.ac.uk/chess/qubb.htm#0708trailer

News
UCU Tournaments: A Critical Moment for Volunteer and Arbiter Support This report, prepared by Tournament Director Karina Campbell and presented to the Ulster Chess Union Executive Board, ou... Oct 26, 2025
Exciting changes to the Sligo event in 2026. Now a multi-tournament chess festival. Save the dates in your calender Jan 30th to Feb 8th. The Sligo event is undergoing a major transformation in 2026 from a weekender to a multi-tournament festival. The Sligo ... Oct 16, 2025
The Monthly Childrens Chess Kicks off Oct 25th at Methodist College ** New date ** The LJCC Belfast Qualifier a one day 6 round tournament starts our annual series of monthly tournaments a... Oct 09, 2025
The 2025 Summer tournament ends with a fun tournament and award ceremony Weds 24th September 2025 saw 24 players gather to celebrate the end of the UCU Summer Tournament. Who won? we have the f... Sep 27, 2025
Belfast Qualifier for the British Open Blitz 2025/26 Belfast runs one of 16 tournaments that allow players to qualify for the British Open Blitz tournament. The top player a... Sep 27, 2025
More news…
« October 2025 »
October
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
Upcoming Events
FIDE RATED City of Bangor 10 Round Halloween Blitz at 3+2 Celebrate Halloween with 10 rounds of Chess Blitz at City of Bangor Chess Club. Thursday 30th October. Oct 30, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
November 1st Childrens Chess 12:30 – 5:00 The monthly schools chess tournaments continues at Methodist College. Nov 01, 2025 12:30 PM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
FIDE RATED Bangor Club Masters Rapid 2025 [10 rounds of 25+0 over two days] Open to all players. One open section with Intermediate and Junior trophies awarded for highest placed finish by players... Nov 06, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:45 PM — City of Bangor International Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT19 6JR
FIDE RATED Bangor Club Masters Rapid 2025 [10 rounds of 25+0 over two days] Open to all players. One open section with Intermediate and Junior trophies awarded for highest placed finish by players... Nov 08, 2025 10:15 AM - 04:30 PM — City of Bangor International Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT19 6JR
FIDE rated Ulster Masters 2025 Please note due to venue capacity, entries will be capped at 44. Nov 14, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025 — Lisburn Chess Club
Upcoming events…