Magnificent Malone make brave Bangor wannabees for another season

Report by Rookie; pics by Dennis the Menace

BD	MALONE	VS	WANNABEES
1	S.FERRIS	0.5-0.5	P.MCGUIGAN
2	N.GREEN	0-1	A.MCCONNELL
3	S.FLANAGAN	0.5-0.5	P.MCLAUGHLIN
4	D.RUBEN	1-0	W.MCGRATTAN
5	N.MCFARLAND	0-1	R.PROCTOR
6	A.BECKETT	1-0	B.BELSHAW
	TOTAL	2.0-3.0
	+BONUS	2.0-5.0

AT GROOMSPORT, 29/4/2010
BOARD 6 NOT PART OF THE OFFICIAL LEAGUE MATCH

Having promised to eat his hat if Wannabees won league division two, Malone “cap”tain, Martin Kelly, cap in hand, turned up with his team at the idyllically-situated Groomsport Church Hall to play Bangor Wannabees in the top of the table clash. Kelly cleverly switched his two S.F.s - Sam Ferris and Sam Flanagan - around from their usual board order to flummox the opposition. On board one, Sam’s draw against a stronger opponent was as “ferris” as his anxious captain could have expected. The next game to finish saw Proctor “gamble” and succeeding in a risky opening on board five and Neil turn “green” after losing on board two. Suddenly, Wannabees only needed a point from the last two games to win the league. By this stage, Kelly had returned from watching Liverpool lose and his quiz team win in the nearby pub. On board three, Paul McLaughlin, behind on material, offered his short-of-time opponent a draw, which was eagerly accepted. With an explosive finish on board three, David’ was “ruben” salt into Wannabees’ wounds as he grabbed a win to guarantee Malone are division two champions, despite losing twice to Wannabees this season.

TEAM	PL	W	D	L	PTS	%
MALONE	14	10	1	3	67.0	75
WANNABEES	14	10	3	1	66.5	82
WINSTON	14	8	2	4	60.5	64
BOMBARDIER	14	8	1	5	55.0	61
FORTWILLIAM	14	6	4	4	54.0	57
HENDERSONS	14	3	2	9	34.5	29
RANDALSTOWN	14	0	4	10	28.0	14
RAVENS	14	1	3	10	26.5	18

The packed hall, Bangor supporters to a man (apart, that is, from guest star Dennis the Menace), were very sporting in defeat as they joined in the group photo taken by our Dennis.

Finally, the Catalan opening is bound to get a revival in popularity after Anand’s second win with it over Topalov in round four.

Denis Bond RIP

Colin Fenton sends the following sad news:

Denis Bond, former member of Craigavon chess club, died recently on the 11th April. It's at least fifteen years since I last played him. He was mid to late forties when he passed away.

Will Anand “topalov” chess throne?

After defeat in round one of the world chess championship in Sofia, Bulgaria last Saturday (see game below), it appeared Topalov had the “Indian sign” over the world champion, but on Sunday Anand fought back to win the second game - so expect exciting times over the next fortnight or so!

I was very busy last weekend, playing in the Phillip Hogarty Memorial Rapidplay in Dublin on Saturday and the QUB Blitz at the Parlour Bar, Belfast on Sunday night. The Dublin event was won by Kilkenny’s Ryan-Rhys Griffiths on 5.5/6, a half-point ahead of Colm Daly, Oissine Murphy and Stephen Moran (the latter beat me in round one). The Ulster scores were: G. Annesley and D. Mallaghan (3.5), P. Morrison (2.0) and M. Kelly and C. Murphy (1.5). The David and Goliath prize of 50 euros went to our own Phillip Morrison (1051). He was able, wearing his red beret, to “beret” his opponent, Dubliner Jack Killane (1860)! Gareth “Ainsley Harriot” Annesley acquired his new nickname after the controller misprinted his surname on the results sheet!

Stephen Scannell and Lukasz Kwiatek scored 4.5/5 at the QUB Blitz on Sunday, a point clear of Eamonn Walls. Scannell was lucky to beat Kwiatek in the playoff as the latter’s flag fell when a queen up! Shane Keers (3 points) said “cheers” when pipping Martin Kelly and Karina Kruk on tiebreak for the under-1600 grading prize, while Pearse O’Brien and Chris McDonald took the under-1200 and best newcomer prizes respectively (“old McDonald had a form” advantage over his opponent in the playoff!).

Finally, here are details of two tournaments coming up soon. First, contact Vincent Bissett at 00 353 16903195 about the Malahide Millenium Tournament at the Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel on May 1-3. (website www.malahidechessclub.com). Secondly ring Mark Newman at 91-456638 to enter the Summer Tournament at Civil Service C.C., Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Upper Newtownards Rd., Belfast running on Wednesday nights from 5/5/10 to 29/9/10.

Rookie

Queen’s clip Hawks’ wings

UCU League Division One

Team	Played	Won	Draw	Lost	Points	%
RVH Hawks	16	12	1	3	81.0	78
QUB	15	13	0	2	76.5	87
Fisherwick	14	6	2	6	51.0	50
The Away Team	16	3	2	11	33.0	25
Lagan	15	1	1	13	24.5	10

Both scheduled matches this week in division one ended in 5-2 wins - for QUB over Hawks and for The Away Team over Lagan.

As Hawks were 7.5 points ahead going into this, their last game, a draw would have won the title over QUB. As it is, the latter can win the title by beating Fisherwick in a postponed match which QUB have claimed by default. League controller David Houston will require the wisdom of Solomon to solve this one. Will David “sling” their claim out (yes, it’s a biblical pun!) And force them to play Fisherwick or will he award them the title by default (“de fault” of “de” Fisherwick team)? Meanwhile, Lagan “sank” without trace against The Away Team to finish last, even if they win their delayed game against Fisherwick.

Rookie