You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2017-2018 season UCU Web 2017 Kelly's Heroes reclaim Strawbridge Cup

Kelly's Heroes reclaim Strawbridge Cup

(B&D League 2017/18 - postponed matches update) Kelly's Heroes secured the Division 2 title with a 3-2 win over nearest rivals Muldoons 2. Meanwhile, Strand 1's Silver King odds lengthened even further as they could only achieve a 3-2 win against Civil Service.

Division 1:

  • The A Team 2-3 Ballynafeigh 2
  • Strand 1 3-2 Civil Service
  • Strand 2 2.5-2.5 Ballynafeigh 1
  • Division 2:

  • Muldoons 2 3.5-1.5 Bangor
  • Kelly's Heroes 3-2 Muldoons 2
  • Division 3:

  • Fruithill 2-3 Ballynafeigh 3
  • Strand 4 2-3 Fruithill
  • Division 4:

  • Strand 3 5-0 Fruithill Ravens
  • Kelly's Heroes have regained the Strawbridge Cup after a narrow win over Muldoons 2. Previously, the Corporation Square side had beaten Bangor 3.5-1.5, leaving them a point ahead of Kelly's Heroes but with one less match to play. Going into this match, this is what Muldoons 2 needed;

    • To remain in the title race: draw the match, or better
    • To win the division: win 4.5-0.5 or 5-0

    Muldoons 2 needed to improve on their result from the teams' previous meeting three weeks prior, which the Marlborough Park side won 3-2. Immediately things looked bleak for Muldoons 2 as their rivals fielded a stronger side, with a second 1600+ player in the form of David Riley. The visitors did have the 1806-rated Steven Eachus, however; could he lead his side to a vital victory? Eachus pulled out a win over Riley, but that was as good as it got for Muldoons 2 as boards 2 and 3 went according to the ratings as Graeme McCormick beat John Wood and John McKenna defeated Pat McKillen. Bernard McCaughey and Martin Donaghy both did well for Muldoons 2 as they held higher-rated players to draws, but it was not enough as Kelly's Heroes got the 3-2 win they needed to secure the Strawbridge Cup for a second time.

    Strand 1 now need two whitewashes from their two remaining Division 1 matches - one of which is against leaders Muldoons 1 - as they could only beat Civil Service 3-2. David McAlister (1566) beat Calum Leitch (1849), while Mark Newman and Paul McGuigan both held significantly higher-rated players - former Ulster Champion Mike Redman, in Newman's case - to draws. Elsewhere in Division 1, Ballynafeigh 2 claimed their first win of the season, beating The A Team 3-2; a result which condemns the latter to the Division 1 wooden spoon, while Strand 2 drew with Ballynafeigh 1.

    Division 3 remains finely poised after two closely-fought matches. Fruithill were surprisingly beaten by a Ballynafeigh 3 team they outrated by nearly 300 points per board, with John Price (1096) beating Frank Carrothers (1266) and Pawel Otocki (918) defeating Gerry Collins (1253), but bounced back with a victory over Strand 4. One match remains - Ballynafeigh 3 vs Fruithill - and all three teams are still in contention for the Division 3 plate:

    • Ballynafeigh 3 win or draw - Ballynafeigh 3 are champions
    • Fruithill win 3-2, 3.5-1.5 or 4-1 - Strand 4 are champions
    • Fruithill win 4.5-0.5 or 5-0 - Fruithill are champions

    Finally, Division 4 champions Strand 3 whitewashed the Fruithill Ravens, bringing that division to a close for this season.

    Division 1PlayedPoints
    Muldoons 1 11 62
    Strand 1 10 48.5
    Strand 2 11 47.5
    Civil Service 11 39
    Ballynafeigh 1 10 36
    Ballynafeigh 2 11 16.5
    The A Team 12 16.5
    Division 2PlayedPointsDivision 3PlayedPointsDivision 4PlayedPoints
    Kelly's Heroes (Champions) 11 56.5 Strand 4 12 44.5 Strand 3 (Champions) 12 45
    Muldoons 2 12 54.5 Ballynafeigh 3 11 41.5 Ballynafeigh 4 12 20
    Bangor 11 45.5 Fruithill 11 38.5 Fruithill Ravens 12 17
    Navigation
    News
    Walter Wilson awarded ‘Special Lifetime Membership’ of Bangor Chess Club. Bangor Chess Club celebrates one of its much loved members Walter Wilson with a "Special Lifetime Membership Award" Sep 24, 2023
    FIDE Rated City of Bangor Congress 23 Sept 2023 Bangor Chess Club continues to deliver top tournaments and brilliant opportunities to play chess. Brendan Jamison report... Sep 24, 2023
    ECF : Online School Chess Events 2023/24 Information from the ECF on Online School Chess Events 2023/24 Sep 23, 2023
    UK Open Blitz Championships 2023 - Belfast Qualifier - Sept 30th An opportunity to qualify for the UK Open Blitz Championships 2023. Belfast is holding one of the 8 qualifying tournamen... Sep 20, 2023
    New FIDE National Arbiters list The Ireland Federation has now got 9 FIDE-licensed National Arbiters in Northern Ireland. While a couple have retired as... Sep 18, 2023
    More news…
    « September 2023 »
    September
    SuMoTuWeThFrSa
    12
    3456789
    10111213141516
    17181920212223
    24252627282930
    Upcoming Events
    The Summer Tournament: Last Week: Prize-Giving and mini Tournament The UCU Summer Tournament is open to all chess players and provides regular competitive chess during the summer months w... Sep 27, 2023 07:30 PM - 10:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
    UK Blitz Championships 2023 - Belfast Qualifier - Sept 30th An opportunity to qualify for the UK Blitz Championships. Belfast is holding one of the 8 qualifying tournaments across ... Sep 30, 2023 10:45 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
    U1800 Greenisland FIDE Classic Oct 01, 2023 10:00 AM - 07:00 PM — Greenisland FC Chess
    FIDE Rated Groomsport Blitz Championship 2023 Oct 05, 2023 07:30 PM - 10:15 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
    LJCC - Belfast Qualifier 2023: 7th October An opportunity for Primary Students to Qualify for the London Junior Chess Championships and for Secondary pupils to enj... Oct 07, 2023 09:15 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
    Upcoming events…