Derby A kept their title hopes alive with a hard-fought draw away at Breadsall, sealed by a dramatic late victory from Leonid after George had fallen behind. With Kevin also holding a draw against higher-rated opposition and time trouble affecting the remaining games, Leonid’s blitz-finish proved decisive in securing a valuable match point.

Derby E were narrowly defeated 2½–1½ by Belper E on Tuesday 10th March 2026 in a match that remained competitive across all boards. Jake’s impressive kingside attack and checkmating finish provided the highlight of the evening, while Chris secured a solid draw in a hard-fought endgame.

Derby C secured a convincing 4–0 victory over Rolls Royce D to climb out of the Division 2 relegation zone. A default on board four set the tone before strong wins from Leonid, David and Shah completed an emphatic team performance.