First Blood at Last — Derby C Triumph
Apologies, but I have not received a report from the team for this game, so I have put together based on my recollections on the night and the game scores. This is also why it is a bit belated. - Kevin.
Derby C finally got their reward for a season of hard graft on Tuesday (27/1/26), securing their first victory of the year with an impressive 2½–1½ win over Clay Cross A. After five losses and a draw, the result felt thoroughly deserved — especially against a side pushing for promotion after relegation from Division 1.
With regular board one Dave unavailable, the team order needed a reshuffle, and Leonid stepped up to the top board for the first time in C-team colours. He justified the faith with a composed draw as Black against the highly rated Anthony Natt. In a Symmetrical English, both sides probed on opposite wings before central trades led to a dynamic rook ending. Leonid’s active rook play and kingside pawn break kept the balance, and with perpetual-check ideas in the air neither side could safely press — a well-earned half point against strong opposition.
The breakthrough came on board two, where Shah delivered a superb attacking performance in a Sicilian Dragon. After the central break …d5, Shah’s knight landed on d6 like an octopus, supported by energetic queen play. Emerging from complications with extra material and a powerful queenside pawn majority, he converted confidently, advancing his passed pawns while tying Black’s rook to passive defence. With promotion looming, resignation followed — Derby’s first full point of the night.
Board four was next to finish, Paul steering a manoeuvring struggle arising from a Horwitz Defence into a balanced endgame. Careful piece play from both sides kept winning chances in check, and a draw was a fair result after a strategic contest.
The final game to conclude was Matthew’s on board three. An English Opening with …e5 led to a controlled positional battle, pieces gradually exchanged into a same-coloured bishop ending with level material. With neither side able to create a breakthrough and time becoming a factor, a draw was agreed — sealing the match.
A long-awaited win, earned through resilience and quality play against strong opposition — hopefully a turning point for Derby C’s season.
| Derby C | 2½ - 1½ | Clay Cross A | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siedielnikov, Leonid | 0000 | ½ - ½ | Natt, Anthony L | 1901 |
| 2 | Hussain, Shah | 1691 | 1 - 0 | Hartley, Dean M | 1832 |
| 3 | Caswell, Matthew | 1600 | ½ - ½ | Williams, Paul | 1710 |
| 4 | Burrows, Paul | 1454 | ½ - ½ | Redhead, Kieran | 1634 |
The games scores are available here: