The 2026 Belper Chess Club Championship is set to produce one of its most dramatic finishes in recent memory. After six rounds, John Potter and James Tilton stand tied at the top of the table, each scoring an impressive five wins and a single draw (the draw coming from their head‑to‑head encounter).

With no clear winner emerging from the standard swiss format, the title will now be decided by a special championship play‑off, marking the first time in many years that the club has required a tie‑breaker to settle the competition.

John and James will meet again on 13th May for a classical‑time‑control decider. If that game also ends level, the play off will move into a sequence of progressively faster time formats ensuring that the 2026 champion is crowned over the board.

The club is looking forward to what promises to be a tense showdown between two of its highest performers this season!