National Final
Congratulations to winners RGS Newcastle who started with 4 wins but then lost to Eltham College in the final round to make it look closer than it actually was.
Thanks to all schools who took part for their very positive approach to the day.
School Total
1 RGS Newcastle 16.5/20
2 Hampton School 15
3 Eltham College 13.5
4 University College School 10
5 Manchester GS 9.5
8= Boroughmuir HS, Edinburgh 7.5
6= Chepstow School 7.5
8= Torquay BGS 7
8= Exeter Maths School 7
10 Highgate School 6.5
Team Chess Challenge is a competition open to any British school with pupils in any of years 7 to 13 (English year groups). Each team taking part consists of four pupils who attend the same school and are in year 6 or above. Team Chess Challenge has been developed as a chess tournament which ALL secondary schools might like to enter.
The structure of Team Chess Challenge is that regional finals will be held on afternoons during the Autumn term of 2016 or early Spring 2017. The winning school at each regional final will qualify for the one day national final [this structure is based on the existing Team Maths Challenge run by the UK Maths Trust for year 8/9 pupils, familiar to many schools]
The hosting school will decide the details of the regional final. Typically at each regional final between four and sixteen teams will participate. The host school can decide how many teams schools can enter. They should ensure an even number of teams take part, by entering an extra team if necessary. Schools may only enter one regional final, which should be local to them, and can only send one team to the national finals.
The regional final is organised as an afternoon tournament lasting between 2 and 3 hours. Each event shall have four rounds (unless only 4 teams are playing) each lasting 25 minutes. “Swiss” pairings will be used to so that in the later rounds the leading teams play against each other, and similarly the weaker teams play each other. Every game counts so the maximum score is 16 points. The winning team is that which scores the most points (out of 16). The host school can decide the starting time of their final, 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 enjoying playing chess. The production of a winner to play at the national final is an important subsidiary to this main aim.
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 finals. Games are not graded and there is no requirement for your team players to be members of any chess organisation.
Weekday afternoon qualification events in schools around the county in the Autumn and Spring terms; final on Wednesday 25th April 2018 at Imperial College
Read a report on last year’s final at Imperial College.
North East Region – Yarm School – Tuesday 7th November
Contact: Michael Pointon Email: mip@yarmschool.org
Winners: RGS Newcastle
4 teams from 2 schools played.
North London Region – Mill Hill County High School -Thursday 9th November
Contact: Sarah Hilton-Dennis Email hiltondenniss@mhchs.org.uk
1st= Highgate A and UCS 12/16; 3rd: MHCHS A 11; 4th: Highgate B 5 ; 5th=: Archers and Mill Hill B 4
Both Highgate and University College School qualify for the national final.
South London Region – Wilson’s School – Wednesday 22nd November
Contact Neill Cooper Email: nsc@wilsonsschool.sutton.sch.uk
Winners: Eltham College 14.5/16; 2nd Wilson’s A 13; 3rd Sutton GS 11.
10 teams from 5 schools took part
Manchester Region – Manchester Grammar School – Wednesday 17th January, 4.00-6.00pm
Contact: Andrew Davies Email: a.r.davies@mgs.org
Winners: Manchester GS 7/8; 2nd King’s School, Macclesfield 3; 3rd Withington Girls School 2
Devon Region – Torquay Boys Grammar School – Tuesday 30th January 2-5 p.m.
Contact: Tim Onions Email: tim.onions@yahoo.co.uk
Winners: Exeter Mathematics School
21 Teams from 6 schools took part
West Country Region – Bristol Grammar School – Monday 5th February
Contact: Graham Iwi Email: giwi@bgs.bristol.sch.uk
Winner: Chepstow School 12/16; 2nd= Churchill School, Somerset and Sir Thomas Rich, Gloucs 11.5/12
11 teams from 6 schools took part.
West London Region – Eton College – Tuesday 13th March 4.30 – 7pm
Contact: Justin Moston Email: J.Moston@etoncollege.org.uk
Winner: Hampton School 15.5/16; 2nd Eton College 9.5
10 teams from 5 schools took part.
Lothian Region
Winner: Boroughmuir High School
National Blitz
King’s Grantham, Saturday 17th March
National Final
Wednesday 25th April 2018 at Imperial College