Queen's win Royal Rumble

RVH were looking to keep their juggernaut steaming forward and secure their status as runaway leaders. A Royal victory would certainly have booked an express ticket to Silver King glory, with one rival captain already describing them as "all conquering". In University Square, a defiant QUB were plotting to show that they remain the strongest side in Ulster Chess. If the Champions could triumph then they would haul their rivals back level in the title race.

After a heavyweight battle, drama, controversy and finally only one man claiming individual glory, it was the Champions who emerged bloodied but victorious from the Royal Rumble of Ulster Chess.

Chris Cohrs and Michael Holmes; Steve Scannell and Gareth Annesley; Lukasz Kwiatek and John Masterson; Eamonn Walls and Nick Pilkiewicz all threw each other out of the ring to cancel themselves out before exiting the arena. Left to take the individual glory was Andrew Higgins, who dumped Brendan O’Neill high over the ropes and 12 feet down to the cold unforgiving floor.

QUB 3-2 RVH
1 Chris Cohrs (2103) 0.5-0.5 Michael Holmes (2034) 
2 Stephen Scannell (2105) 0.5-0.5 Gareth Annesley (1954)
3 Lukasz Kwiatek (1830) 0.5-0.5 John Masterson (1872)
4 Eamonn Walls (1882) 0.5-0.5 Nicholas Pilkiewicz (1901)
5 Andrew Higgins (1666) 1-0 Brendan O'Neill (1702)

The gap between Queen’s and RVH is now slashed to just half a point with exactly half the season gone. It’s set to be an intriguing title run in…

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