You are here: Home Archives Player Biographies Des Forson Des Forson 1964-2013

Des Forson 1964-2013

Des Forson, longtime member of the Ulster Chess Union, died in a Whiteabbey hospice in the middle of November. David Houston, friend and contemporary, remembers Des - on and off the chess board.
Des Forson 1964-2013

Des at the 2008 Ulster Championship

It is with great sadness that I have to write about the untimely death of long time UCU member and friend Des Forson. I was expecting a visit from Des to discuss the Carlsen - Anand World Championship match only to be shocked that he had passed away on the 13th November in Whiteabbey Hospice from prostate cancer at the age of 49. Despite having recently bumped into Des he never mentioned his illness but all he did talk about was his latest trip to the far east.

Des Forson's Benko GambitI first came across Des as a fresh faced teenager with spikey, dyed blond hair playing for Carrick Chess club. Des was a good solid player with a deep understanding and background knowledge of chess. We later played together on the same team for Queen's University and enjoyed many adventures on journeys to chess tournaments. We had many a deep conversation over a pint or 2 into the idea that playing 1.d4 (Des's favourite opening) actually made you a boring player.  Over the years we had many tough struggles in the Benko Gambit as Des researched the latest lines and nuances. In particular I remember

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 
6.f4 g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.e4 Bxf1 10.Rxf1 d6
11.Kf2

and tip-toeing down the a-file. Lines we battled over many times.

Des Forson shaking hands with Ray Keene; Belfast City Hall 1991Des was always an avid reader and had a very large collection of chess books which he had stored in many boxes sorted by opening, best games and instructional. In his later life he stopped competing in tournaments but still came to the AGM and Ulster Championships. At these UCU events he indulged in his latest hobby of photography which, Des being Des, he had researched extensively into which lens and film was best for photographing chess. One of our last conversations was about "super foods" as Des was munching away on avocados and pistachio nuts for lunch at the 2013 Ulster Championships.

Des's life outside chess was often very private so It was very typical that he never mentioned his illness to his chess playing friends. At least I know that he would be happy that Carlsen bored Anand with d4 into winning the World Championships. He will be sorely missed.

News
Join the FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge 2025 – Every Move Counts! A message from The FIDE Social Commission Team:- FIDE has made 2025 the Year of Social Chess and invites you to particip... Apr 28, 2025
Final Standings for the 2025 Childrens Chess Grandprix With the April Childrens Chess completed we have the final standings for the 2025 Grandprix. The top four of each sectio... Apr 26, 2025
UCU League 2024/25 final tables and board prizes Report on the UCU Belfast & District League 2024/25 Apr 20, 2025
City Of Bangor Chess Club hosted the Ulster Team Rapidplay Championship 2024/25 The Ulster Chess Team Rapidplay Championships are run every two years. Top players and team travelled to the fantastic B... Apr 16, 2025
Aprils Monthly Childrens Chess Tournament at Methodist College On April 12th 2025 Children from all over Ulster meet at Methodist College to play brilliant chess at the Ulster Chess U... Apr 16, 2025
More news…
« May 2025 »
May
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
Upcoming Events
Delancey Schools UK Chess Challenge Belfast Megafinal May 10th Our Monthly Children's Chess Tournaments continues with the UK Chess Challenge Belfast Megafinal Sat 10th May - an oppor... May 10, 2025 09:45 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
GM Simul with Alex Baburin May 23, 2025 06:30 PM - 11:00 PM — Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Belfast
FIDE RATED City of Belfast Classic Championship 2025 Sat 24th May, Sun 25th May, Mon 26th May Venue: Castleview Suite, Maynard Sinclair Sports Pavilion, Upper Newtownards R... May 24, 2025 - May 26, 2025 — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
FIDE RATED Belfast Blitz Championship 2025 May 24, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — Castleview Suite, Maynard Sinclair Sports Pavilion, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2025 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Sunday 8th June at the Civil Service Pavilion. Jun 08, 2025 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
Upcoming events…