In amongst the political game of chess taking place in Westminster currently, the first round of the Conservative Party’s leadership election concluded late last night with a strong showing for Foreign Secretary /u/model-willem, who equalled the bookmakers’ favourite /u/Yukub’s 12 first preference votes. /u/BrexitGlory, who mounted a surprisingly successful campaign, trailed just behind on eight first preference votes and was therefore eliminated.

Yesterday’s result is especially surprising given the apparent lead built up by /u/Yukub and his team. According to Model Unfiltered’s analysis, /u/Yukub boasted eight public endorsements from Tory MPs, while /u/model-willem trailed behind with four; meanwhile, /u/BrexitGlory had managed to secure three before being knocked out of the running. At the same time, Nub Bank was offering astonishingly short odds of 1/20 on /u/Yukub to win, with /u/model-willem on 4/1 and /u/BrexitGlory on 21/2.

Ahead of the final winner-takes-all round of voting, at the time of writing /u/Yukub sits on 4/9 and /u/model-willem on 4/5, which we’re not sure really adds up but then again we’re journalists not bookies.

Pollsters at The Guardian will also be surprised, having seen an apparent 26 vote lead for /u/Yukub being reduced to zero, although a lower turnout during the first round will undoubtedly have been a factor.

When The Times asked /u/Yukub for his thoughts on the first round of voting, he told us, ”I am delighted to have received the votes and confidence of so many members of my party, and look forward to facing Willem in the second round. I am sure that the party will make the right decision,” before adding, “Whatever the outcome, we must stand strong and together to deliver the conservative policies that Britain so urgently needs and deserves and ensure Labour is given no quarter in its attempt to implement its spurious and puerile programme.”

We also asked /u/model-willem if he was surprised that he tied the first round, and he said, “The bets and endorsements surely pointed into the direction of a Yukub victory, but it seems that my experience and my story inspire the people in the Conservatives.” He also seems quietly confident about his chances in the final round. “I've shown that I can come back from a place where people didn't think I could get back from,” he said. “One of the voters for BrexitGlory already endorsed me the same night. I know that we can pull this off.”

Unfortunately /u/BrexitGlory was banned a couple of weeks ago from the Palace of Westminster and most of Whitehall by the Serjeant at Arms, so we were unable to find him for comment.