From 1957 until 1974 Detlef Neukirch was a regular participant in the East German Chess Championship. As part of the SG Leipzig team, he was a multiple winner of the Ēast Germany team chess championship (1970–1973, 1981–1983). In international chess tournaments, Detlef Neukirch showed the best result in 1976 in Brno, where he took 2nd place.[2]
Detlef Neukirch played for East Germany in the European Team Chess Championships:[3]
- In 1970, at second reserve board in the 4th European Team Chess Championship in Kapfenberg (+0, =3, -0) and won team bronze medal.
Detlef Neukirch played for East Germany in the European Team Chess Championship preliminaries:[4]
- In 1965, at ninth board in the 3th European Team Chess Championship preliminaries (+0, =4, -1),
- In 1970, at reserve board in the 4th European Team Chess Championship preliminaries (+1, =1, -0).
Detlef Neukirch played for East Germany in the World Student Team Chess Championships:[5]
- In 1962, at fourth board in the 9th World Student Team Chess Championship in Mariánské Lázně (+2, =1, -2),
- In 1964, at second board in the 11th World Student Team Chess Championship in Kraków (+3, =3, -5),
- In 1965, at second board in the 12th World Student Team Chess Championship in Sinaia (+2, =5, -4),
- In 1966, at second board in the 13th World Student Team Chess Championship in Örebro (+1, =6, -5),
- In 1967, at second board in the 14th World Student Team Chess Championship in Harrachov (+5, =5, -2).
