You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2013-2014 season UCU Web 2014 Belfast South trip themselves up

Belfast South trip themselves up

NICS headed off across the city for the Banker's Club to test the mettle of "Kelly's Heroes". Waiting in the bay-window with chess board at the ready was Ray Devenney with Sam Flanagan, camera in hand. This did not look good at all!
Belfast South trip themselves up

Muldoons & NICS at Belfast South

Fortunately it turned out the Belfast South A-Team were entertaining Muldoon's first team. Or at least 4 of them were, fifth board was vacant so Des Moreland had wait it out after travelling over. Sam Flanagan & Danny Malaghan drew surprisingly quickly on board 2. Boards 1, Ray Devenney vs Gareth Annesley, & 3, Bruce McLean vs Nick Pilkiewiz,  flowed the same way but at a slower pace. Board 4, Stephen Wood launched a serious assault against Graeme McCormick down the centre with a pair of Rooks backed by a Bishop & Knight pair. But the Rooks could not deal the fatal blow. With the other two pieces too far away now to offer assistance, the attack fizzled out, reduced to pinging pawns. Graeme was able to recover, getting his own Rooks in to play and another draw resulted. Muldoons  win the match 3-2 with the forfeit board 5.

NICS boards 2 & 3The Division 2 match overflowed the main playing room with board 1 John McKenna defending against Mark Newman relegated to the main bar. Again there was no board 5 from the BSers leaving Pete Storey to join Des in the bar, eventually heading home disappointed and not a little aggrieved with getting no game after rushing back from down the country.

On board 2, Alan Burns defended against Neil Green and when Neil launched a major attack down the c-file it looked as if Alan's Queen was a goner. Alan is made of sterner stuff and not only survived the onslaught but, like last week, had squirrelled a troop of pawns up the King-side posing a serious threat to Neil who was now under time pressure. With most of the pieces still in play, the complexities just gobbled up the remaining time and Neil's clock ran out to give Alan the game.Board 4: George Jackson vs Adrian Donford-Smith

On board 3 Drew Ferguson was getting the better of Martin Kelly shaping up for a convincing direct attack on Martin's King. But a loose move left Drew's Queen exposed forcing the loss of a Knight. Despite a valiant attempt to force through a pawn to promotion, Martin was able to claim the game. Adrian Donford-Smith suffered a similar fate against George Jackson. Adrian dropped a pawn early on which George was able to exploit into the end-game.

NICS hopes to salvage some points were on final board Mark Newman who had John McKenna under the cosh with a back-rank mate threatening. With only White's Rook Bishop against Blacks Rook Knight, a lot of posturing as the foursome danced around each other letting John give  his King some breathing spaceBoard 1: Mark Newman vs John McKenna but at the cost of letting Mark advance an extra pawn to the 7th rank. Eventually John was forced into trading down and with only a few minutes left, conceded the game. Phew, NICS claimed the match to maintain a clean sheet in their Division 3 campaign. Next match against Bangor in two weeks will likely be a reality check for them.

A lot of gurning after the match though over Belfast South's insistence that players travel even though the club knew they could not field a full team for either fixture. And indeed, rather odd that the Division 1 fixture was a board shy when the BSers had players to put up a second squad. Rumours are that questions will be asked in the House with the barrack-room lawyers sharpening their pencils from both Muldoon's and NICS. With two adjudications already featuring the host club, we wonder if the BSers need to consider a renaming.

Navigation
News
Childrens Chess continued on February 11th 2023 at Methodist College February 11th saw top young chess players gather at Methodist College to play some top chess. The afternoon consisted of... Mar 04, 2023
FIDE rating report - March 2023 15 players gained new FIDE ratings in the March 2023 list. Feb 28, 2023
Ladies Day with WIM Trisha Report A report by Karina Campbell We were lucky to get back to Greenisland FC Chess Club where it all started. On Sunday 26th... Feb 27, 2023
March and April programming at Bangor Chess Club Feb 23, 2023
Hanzharov wins FIDE-rated City of Bangor Winter Blitz "Fast Eddie" blitzes the opposition at Groomsport Parish Hall Feb 18, 2023
More news…
« March 2023 »
March
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
Upcoming Events
FIDE Rated - The March Mini Rapid Mar 24, 2023 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — Greenisland FC Chess Club, 100 Glenkeen Avenue, Greenisland, BT38 8ST
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2023 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Sunday 26th March at the Civil Service Pavilion. Mar 26, 2023 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
FIDE Rated U1800 Groomsport Classic 2023 Groomsport Classic returns with 5 rounds over 2 days, Thursday 30th March and Saturday 1st April Mar 30, 2023 - Apr 01, 2023 — Church of Ireland Groomsport Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
Irish Junior Chess Championships 2023 Mar 31, 2023 - Apr 02, 2023 — Coláiste Éanna, Hillside Park, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, D16E248
Children's Chess - Methody The monthly schools chess tournaments continues at Methodist College. Apr 01, 2023 12:30 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Upcoming events…