Setback for Derby D in Promotion Battle
On Thursday (5/2/26), Derby D travelled to Rolls-Royce for a key Division 3 match, with both sides level on seven points alongside Chesterfield B.
Chris, playing Black on board two, was involved in an intriguing queen’s pawn game in which he adopted a Pirc-style setup. The middlegame ebbed and flowed, with both sides having chances to seize the initiative. After the knights were exchanged, it looked as though White might win a pawn, but Chris spotted a resource that would allow him to equalise following the trade of light-squared bishops. White then initiated a queen exchange, which allowed Chris to push a pawn with tempo, uncovering an attack on the white rook. When the rook fell to a bishop, White resigned, as mate would soon have followed.
Garry, on board one, faced the Advance Variation of the Caro-Kann. He managed to open the c- and b-files for activity, but a blunder cost him a knight and two pawns, after which the position proved beyond repair.
On board four, Sam’s opponent chose the Scotch Game. An early Ne5 cost Sam momentum, and he soon fell two pawns behind. Although there may have been practical chances to continue, Sam resigned in the endgame.
On board three, I faced the Old Indian Defence after opening with 1.d4. Queens were exchanged early and I was able to dominate the d-file for a time, but my opponent gradually manoeuvred a knight to a secure d4 outpost and opened the a-file. My queenside pawns began to fall, and with the position deteriorating, I resigned.
The match finished in a 3–1 defeat, leaving the Division 3 table still very tight.
Andre 9/2/26
| Rolls Royce E | 3 - 1 | Derby D | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cureton, Oliver | 1448 | 1 - 0 | Sands, Garry | 1576 |
| 2 | Moorcroft, George | 1354 | 0 - 1 | Sharp, Chris | 1560 |
| 3 | Mallon, Robert | 1345 | 1 - 0 | Cockburn, Andre | 1557 |
| 4 | Adlington, Ethan | 1336 | 1 - 0 | Samra, Mohinderpal | 1473 |
Andre