As tradition would have it, Anstey’s season began with that familiar slow burn — the kind where you can feel the engine warming but the results sheet doesn’t quite get the memo. With all five divisions now underway, October delivered drama, heartbreak, surprise scalps, and a few “did that really just happen?” moments across the club.
Let’s break it down division by division.
Division 1 – The Heavyweights Stumble Early, but Signs of Life Appear
The top flight opened with a bang… or, depending on your perspective, a friendly-fire explosion. Anstey 1 fell to Anstey 2 in the season opener — the kind of result that makes you go, “Yeah, this league is gonna be spicy.”
From there, the fixture list was absolutely cruel, sending Anstey 1 straight into the jaws of title favourites Wigston 1 and Syston 1. Both matches were narrow defeats, the kind where you can practically hear Levy Rozman saying, “It was equal… until it wasn’t.”
But there were positives. They’re yet to field a full first-choice lineup, and the return of Sooraj plus Stuart’s debut against Syston were major boosts. The wins will come — the foundations are there.
Meanwhile, Anstey 2 enjoyed a dizzying start with that sensational victory over Anstey 1, only to fall just short against Market Harborough 1 in a nail-biter. A tough outing against Wigston 1 followed, but taking a match off the first team is already one of the plot twists of the season.
Division 2 – Anstey 3 Playing Like They Didn’t Get the “Slow Start” Memo
If Division 1 trudged out of the gate, Anstey 3 sprinted.
They kicked off by dismantling Loughborough 2 with a crushing 4–1 win. Highlight of the night? Ben’s upset victory over former Anstey star George “The Rocket” — a result that definitely raised some eyebrows (and probably a few heart rates).
Momentum kept rolling as the third team claimed the scalp of Wigston 2, with standout performances across the board. The moment of the match? Nick’s brilliant draw against 2000+ rated Andy Morley, a result that absolutely belongs in the “frame it and hang it on the wall” category.
Two wins from three — this squad has been the Division 2 breath of fresh air.
Division 3 – Outrated but Not Outworked
It was a tough opening month for Anstey 4, who ran into wave after wave of higher-rated opposition. Losses to Melton 2, Wigston 4, and Heathcote 1 tell the story of the scoreboard, but not the energy behind the team.
Here’s the real headline: two-thirds of the team are juniors, stepping into adult league chess and holding their own in a notoriously tricky division. The results will come — and when they do, some of the clubs above them won’t know what hit them.
Division 4 – Anstey 5 Start Brightly; Anstey 6 Bring the Chaos
In classic Anstey fashion, Division 4 delivered some early-season plot twists.
Anstey 5 started with a strong win against Anstey 6, but couldn’t convert that momentum into points against Leicester Uni 2, Market Harborough 3, or Kirby 1. Still, plenty of solid individual performances and loads to build on.
Anstey 6, though? Now there’s a surprise package.
After losing to the strong Leicester Uni 2 side, they bounced back brilliantly — first drawing Heathcote 2, then taking down Market Harborough 3–1. A resilient, fighting start from a team already punching above their predicted weight.
Division 5 – Surprise Results Everywhere
Division 5 was, simply put, absolute chaos — the good kind.
Anstey 7 started strong with a win in the derby against Anstey 8, then lost narrowly to Kirby 2, and followed that up by drawing Wigston 5 despite the rating gap. That’s the kind of “hold my beer” result that defines entire seasons.
Anstey 8, meanwhile, had a challenging start. Losses to Anstey 7 and Syston 3 hurt, but they redeemed their October with a hard-earned draw away at Kirby 2 — a promising sign that they’re finding their footing.
Final Thoughts
October gave us slow starts, incredible upsets, juniors fighting like lions, and a third team playing with Division-1 swagger. A classic Anstey opening month: bumpy, bold, and already full of storylines.
If this is how the season begins… the rest of the year is going to be electric.
Anstey Chess Club 