Warm Welcome and Even Scoreline at Wirksworth
On Tuesday (27/02/26), Derby E travelled to Wirksworth Feathers for the return fixture in Division 4, earning a 2–2 draw in a match that echoed the season opener between the sides back in September. As with the previous Tuesday away match, I was unable to attend due to club duties at home, leaving the team to manage matters themselves — and they did so well.
The evening had a slightly unusual start when James phoned shortly after arrival, unsure where the chess was being played. With Wirksworth still a relatively new venue for us, I couldn’t offer much guidance — but, while still on the call, he spotted boards being set up and the mystery was quickly resolved. Once settled, he reported that the venue itself was “nice and cosy, with an open fireplace, drinks available, easy enough to park nearby” and that the Wirksworth team were welcoming and accommodating hosts.
There was also a nice family dimension to the night, with Asher making his first league appearance for the club, alongside his grandfather Alan, who was also making his seasonal debut. It’s always good to see different generations sharing the match experience.
Board 3 another debutant James, playing his very first match game, handled the occasion confidently. As he put it, he started with piece development, took the opportunity to prevent the opponent from castling, then capitalised on a tactical mistake. It was a decisive win — an excellent start to his league career.
On Board 4, Asher also marked his first match appearance with a victory. It was clearly a composed performance and a great result on debut, contributing an important point to the team total.
The top two boards were longer struggles.
On Board 1, Alan was last to finish. He later described his game as “not very pretty.” After missing an early pawn on the c-file, he nevertheless built up a strong space advantage and was doing well for much of the middlegame. His opponent gradually fought back, and just as a key pawn was about to fall, Alan accidentally left his queen en prise and had to resign — a frustrating end to what had been a promising position.
Board 2 saw Jake face sustained pressure after choosing a Scandinavian Defence. He emerged from the opening with a playable but slightly passive position and even picked up a pawn, but White steadily built a kingside initiative. Exchanges on the d-file increased the tension, and eventually his opponent’s coordinated piece play broke through. Jake resisted for a long time in a game that went deep into the evening, but the attack ultimately proved decisive.
With two wins and two losses, the 2–2 draw was a fair reflection of an evenly balanced match. It also means both meetings between the sides this season have finished level — a sign of how closely matched the teams are.
Overall, it was another positive team evening: two successful debuts, two long battles at the top boards, a welcoming venue, and a small dose of pre-match adventure in finding the room. Derby E continue to show resilience and growing confidence in competitive play.
| Wirksworth Feathers | 2 - 2 | Derby E | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cowin, Ian | 1551 | 1 - 0 | Kennedy, Alan | 1632 |
| 2 | Hall, David | 1458 | 1 - 0 | Rowbottom, Jake | 1522 |
| 3 | Williams, Owen | 1440 | 0 - 1 | Cox, James | 0000 |
| 4 | Few, Cameron | 1210 | 0 - 1 | Wastie, Asher | 1260 |
Kevin 31/01/26
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