Report from the Junior Chess Team Challenge Final – played 16th April 2016
[above – the playing hall (left) and the winning team (right)]
Fourteen teams set out from all parts of England and Wales and descended on the Kings School Grantham (Isaac Newton’s old school). Three teams took advantage of its easy accessibility by train, and teams from Wilson’s Heathside and RGS Newcastle all arrived simultaneously at Grantham Station and enjoyed a brisk, short walk to the school.
As the teams arrived at the school they were greeted not only the friendly Kings staff but the enticing smell of bacon sandwiches provided by the on-site caterers, who provided food and drink all through the day. As the start time approached there was only one missing team – Kings College Wimbledon, who had been delayed. However, they arrived just as the briefing was finished and slipped quietly into their seats ready for the first round. Kings College demolished the host school in the first round and surged into an early lead which they never relinquished. After the first three rounds there was a cluster of teams in with a chance of second/third place. After several swings of fortune in the last round the final results were
Kings College – 14
Reigate Grammar – 10.5
Magdalen College – 10
Summer Fields – 9.5
Howells School, KEGS Chelmsford – 9
Heathside, Wilsons, St. Johns – 8.5
RGS Newcastle – 8
St.Edwards – 6.5
Witham Hall – 6
Kings Grantham, Bourne Grammar – 2
Contact: Phill Beckett Email: dep.manager.secondary@englishchess.org.uk
A new pilot event – any school with pupils under 13 (year 8 and below) can enter. One day semi-finals and one day National Final.
This pilot competition is aimed at pupils below year 9. There will be a series of regional finals with the winner and runner-up qualifying for the final (at a venue to be determined, to be held by Easter 2016)
The typical schedule is a team event using a Swiss system (unless there are a low number of entrants, in which case teams may play an all-play-all competition), each team playing four rounds Every point scored will count towards the team total i.e. a team winning 3-1 would score three points and the losing team would score one point. All schools can enter two teams with the host team having the option of a third team in order to have an even number of teams.
The regional events are designed so that they can be completed in an afternoon, although a regional event could be held as a one-day event according, to the wishes of the host school.
Under 13 Regional Final at Magdalen College School
Under 13 Regional Finals
Saturday 10th October – welcome 10:15, finish approx 4:00
King’s College School, Wimbledon SW19 4TT Contact: Matthew Hortin Email: mjh@kcs.org.uk
Winners: King’s College School A
Second, also qualifiers for final: Wilson’s A
16 teams took part
Saturday 7th November 11.00 – 5:00
St Edward’s CE Academy, Leek Staffordshire ST13 8DN Contact: Colin Abell Email: abellc@st-edwards.staffs.sch.uk
Winners: St Edward’s Academy A
Saturday 14th November – 11:00am start
The Grange Hadnock Road, Monmouth NP25 3NG Contact: Richard Stevenson Email: richardstevenson@zoho.com
Winners: Howell’s, Cardiff,
Second, also qualifiers for final: St John’s, Cardiff.
10 teams took part
Wednesday 18th November 4:00 – 6:30
Bourne Grammar School, South Rd, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9JE
Entries co-ordinated by Phill Beckett Email: dep.manager.secondary@englishchess.org.uk
Winners: Witham Hall A
Second, also qualifiers for final: Bourne A
9 teams took part
Monday 7th December 5pm – 7.30pm
Magdalen College School Contact: John Place Email: jplace@mcsoxford.org
Winners: Magdalen College School A
Second, also qualifiers for final: Summer Fields A
12 teams took part [picture above]
Monday 14th December 4.30 to 6.30pm
Wilson’s School, Wallington, Surrey Contact: Neill Cooper Email: nsc@wilsonsschool.sutton.sch.uk
Winners: Reigate GS
Second, also qualifiers for final: KEGS Chelmsford A (on tie break* from Wilson’s B)
8 teams took part
Friday 15th January 2016 3 to 6pm
RGS Newcastle David Eggleston Email: dje567@hotmail.co.uk
Winners: RGS Newcastle
Under 13 last chance saloon at Kings Grantham
Wednesday 9th March 4pm to 6pm
Entries co-ordinated by Phill Beckett Email: dep.manager.secondary@englishchess.org.uk
Winners: King’s School,Grantham
Saturday 12th March
Heathside Prep School Contact: Lateefah Messam-Sparks Email: lmessamsparks@yahoo.com
(This event is open to any team which has not yet qualified.)
Winners: Heathside Prep School
*Tie breaks:
(1) (if only 2 teams equal) match between teams. If a draw then board count then bottom board elimination
(2) sum of opponents scores