News
Bonfire Night Bites Back: Derby B Lose a Close One
Derby B came agonisingly close at Burton & Lichfield A, leading 1½–½ after a win on board four and a draw on board two before losing 1½–2½. Fighting spirit on every board was not quite enough on the night.
Bar-Room Highs and Board-Room Lows: Derby E Fall at Burton
Derby E's unbeaten start ended with a 3½–½ defeat away at Burton and Lichfield E, in a match made possible only by three players stepping in at short notice. Sam's board-one draw was our only score, while time pressure proved costly on boards two and three.
Resilience Not Enough: Leonid's Fightback Win Can't Save Derby A
Derby A fell to a 2½–1½ defeat away to defending champions Belper, with losses on the top two boards proving decisive. Leonid's resilient win on board four was not enough to prevent the holders from claiming an important scalp in their title defence.
Skewers, Mist and a Fun Fair: Derby F Draw at Belper
Derby F drew 2–2 away at Belper E on Wednesday (28/10/26), with Nick and Asher winning on boards two and three. Alan and Angharad lost on boards one and four, though Angharad fought back from an early blunder and Alan had a grandson ready with a memorable post-mortem.
Derby D Edge Spondon A as Depleted Visitors Default Board Four
On Tuesday (27/10/26), Derby D beat Spondon A 2½–1½ in Division 3, with Andre winning on board three, Paul drawing on board two and Curtis taking the point by default after the visitors arrived a player short. Garry resigned on move 49 on board one, in a game he felt he should have won.
Colle, Caro-Kann and a Closed Sicilian: Derby C Hold Rolls Royce B
Derby C drew 2–2 at home to promotion favourites Rolls Royce B in Division 2, their first points of the season. Draws for Stuart and Matt and a queen blunder by Shah’s opponent did the damage after a difficult night on board one.
Last-Minute Reserve, Last-Minute Relief: Oye Helps Derby F Draw with Spondon B
Derby F drew 2–2 with Spondon B on Tuesday (20/10/26), with Oye and Asher winning on boards two and four. Alan and Bill lost on boards one and three, Bill having been one move from checkmate, and there was plenty for the Chess Forge team to learn from.
Josh's 92-Move Marathon and Duncan's Time-Trouble Win Earn Derby E a Draw
Derby E and Belper E drew 2–2 on Tuesday (20/10/26), with Josh and Duncan winning on boards three and four and Curtis and James losing on the top two. The draw keeps Derby E unbeaten after two matches, with Burton & Lichfield E away on 2 November next.
Points on the Board: Derby B Squeeze Past Newly Promoted Clay Cross
Derby B opened their points tally with a 2½–1½ home win over newly promoted Clay Cross A, drawing on the top three boards. A time-trouble queen blunder on board four settled a tense evening in Derby’s favour.
Late Sting in the Tail, but Belper B Prove Too Strong
Derby C went down 3–1 at home to promotion favourites Belper B in Division 2, with the match decided before Stuart's late win on board two. Stuart's pawn sacrifice and back-rank mating finish was the highlight of a tough night for the home side.
A Fork Missed, A Match Lost: Derby C Stumble at Burton
Derby C began their Division 2 campaign with a narrow 1½–2½ defeat away at Burton & Lichfield C, despite starting as the stronger side on paper. Stuart's well-supported h-pawn win and a hard-fought draw on board one were not enough, with the decisive game lost to a missed knight fork in time trouble.
Last Year’s Debutants Take On This Year’s Intake!
Last year’s “Chess Forge” team, the E team, now let loose on the league, played this year’s edition - the F team. The result was a 3½–½ win for the E team. The E team demonstrated their growth and the F team gained some valuable experience. The match was enjoyed by all that played!
A Tale of Two Teams: Derby A Hold Off Derby B 2½–1½
Derby A held off a battling Derby B side 2½–1½ in a tense Division 1 season opener, with new signing Owen Crawford beating Kevin Dalley on top board and Leonid Siedielnikov salvaging a dramatic draw against Steve Retout. Read both sides of the story: John Tompson's account from the Derby A side, paired with David Smith's Derby B report.
Paul and Garry Lead Derby D to Season-Opening Victory
Derby D opened the 2026/27 season with a 2½–1½ away win at Burton & Lichfield D, played for the first time in the club's new room at the Bridge Inn. Wins for Paul Burrows and Garry Sands, plus a match-clinching draw from Sam Samra, were enough to overcome a loss on board two.
Forged in Competition: Derby E's Inaugural Season and the Players Who Made It
A review of Derby E’s inaugural season. The Chess Forge concept in action!
Season's End: Derby A Sign Off with a 4-0 Flourish — but the Title Just Slips Away
Derby A rounded off their Division One campaign with a commanding 4-0 home win over Burton & Lichfield on Tuesday, with all four boards delivering victories in contrasting fashion. The result caps a fine season that saw Derby finish level on points with champions Belper A — a title that ultimately slipped away on game difference alone.
So Near, So Far: Derby D's Relegation Fight Dealt a Hammer Blow
Derby D suffered a damaging 1–3 defeat away to Chesterfield B on Monday, leaving their relegation survival hopes hanging by a thread. Mohinderpal Samra provided the only bright spot with a patient endgame win, but a heartbreaking collapse on board one proved the decisive blow.
Commanding at Home: Derby A Clinch Runners-Up Spot
Derby A cemented their place as Division One runners-up with a comfortable 3-1 home win over already-relegated Rolls-Royce B. One game remains — at home against Burton & Lichfield — where a win would see them finish level on points with champions Belper.
The Draw That Secured Derby B: Rolls Royce A vs Chesterfield A
Rolls Royce A and Chesterfield A shared the points in a 2–2 draw. result proved decisive in the wider Division 1 picture, confirming Derby B's First Division survival.