Primary Team Chess Challenge is for primary school-aged pupils. Teams will consist of four players (reserves are allowed) and all players must be Year 6 or below. Primary Team Chess Challenge has been developed as a chess tournament which ALL primary schools might like to enter.
The structure of Primary Team Chess Challenge is that regional events will be held on afternoons during Autumn Term 2024 and Spring Term 2025. The winning school at each regional event will qualify for the one day National Final. The host school will decide the details of the regional event. Typically at each regional event, between eight and sixteen teams will participate. 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. Schools can enter more than one regional event but players in a winning team cannot play in a subsequent regional event that season.
The regional event is normally organised as an afternoon tournament lasting about two hours. The typical rate of play is 10 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. Most events will have four rounds with each round lasting about half an hour. Swiss pairings will be used so that in the later rounds, the leading teams play against each other, and similarly the weaker teams play each other. Every point scored will count towards the team total, so a team winning 3-1 would score three points, and the losing team would score one point. The winning team is the one that scores the most points (out of 16 in a four round event). The host school can decide the starting time of their regional event, which may be during afternoon school or after school has finished. The principal aim of the regional final is that large numbers of school teams enjoy playing chess. The production of a winner to play at the National Final is an important subsidiary to this main aim. Sometimes schools who are runners-up at a regional event are also invited to the National Final.
There is no entry fee for the tournament, but the host school may make a small charge for the provision of the refreshments, and possibly trophies, at the regional events. Games are not graded unless the local organiser wishes to do so, and there is no requirement for your team players to be members of any chess organisation.
We would welcome any school who are offering to host and run a regional event in an area where there is not one being held. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Regional qualifiers with confirmed dates
Wednesday 20th November 2024 – Kings College School, Wimbledon SW19 4TT
Contact: Matthew Hortin Email: MJH@kcs.org.uk
Thursday 21st November 2024 – Nottingham High School, Forest Road East, Nottingham NG1 4HH
Contact Ed Jones Email: ed47jones@gmail.com
Saturday 18th January 2025 – Bluecoat School, Birmingham B17 0HR
Time: 1.00 – 5.00pm
Form: https://form.jotform.com/242613656052352
Contact: Alex Holowczak Email: alexholowczak@gmail.com
Monday 3rd March 2025 – Bristol Grammar School BS8 1SR
Contact Graham Iwi Email: GIwi@bgs.bristol.sch.uk
Wednesday 5th March – Broseley C of E Primary School, Dark Lane, Broseley TF12 5LW
Contact Chris Lewis Email: christopher.d.lewis44@gmail.com
If you have any questions about Primary Team Chess Challenge then please contact the national organiser Neill Cooper Email: manager.secondary@englishchess.org.uk