The Junior Team Chess Challenge, organised by the English Chess Foundation, gives talented players in the early years of secondary school the opportunity to compete in a national tournament. From a series of regional heats, winning teams proceed to the National Final, which this year will be held in Birmingham. Wilson’s entered two teams—U13 A and B—into the regional heat at Dunottar School on 22nd February and were thrilled to come away with an entry into the National Final.
Aahan and Jai (both Year Eight) have written about their experiences in the competition: do read on to find out more!
Chess is known as a sport which causes tons of pressure, and the pressure was on at Dunnottar School on Thursday the 22nd of February for the Junior Teams Chess Challenge.
The first round started at around 5pm. Wilson’s A team consisted of Arnav, Akshay, Antony, Adit, James, Jai and myself. Also playing was Wilson’s B team, consisting of Year Sevens who debuted at this tournament.
In round 1, Arnav was on Board 1, I was on Board 2, Jai was on Board 3 and James was on Board 4. This was a solid team. James finished first with a quick win and Jai then won again, with his opponent completing two illegal moves just a few turns before he was about to be checkmated. My opponent touched all his pieces (which is also illegal) and then got checkmated at the very corner of the board just after I promoted and got a queen. At this point we were winning 3-0. With only 4 minutes left on the clock and the pressure mounting, Arnav secured a win against his opponent, giving us a 4-0 win. Wilson’s B also won their first round.
In round 2, Aarnav, Jai and I all had a bye, giving us time to look at the refreshments which by the end of the tournament were all gone - apart from the healthier options! Akshay, Antony and Adit entered on board 1, 2 and 3 respectively. They all won giving us a strong 2-point lead. Unfortunately, Wilson’s B lost round 2 against a tough opponent. In Round 3, Arnav and I came back on with Jai staying off and James and Adit going off as well. Akshay got a quick win, which was followed by my gaining a free queen at the start of the game and my opponent resigning later. After that, Antony and Arnav won.
So far, we were on a streak of 12 wins out of 12 games. The final round approached: Wilson’s A vs Wilson’s B. Anvith, board 2 Wilson’s B, had the upper hand against Akshay after Akshay played a6,h6 as black (not an opening Magnus Carlsen would recommend), but Akshay still managed to win the endgame. Luckily, our team secured a 4-0 win securing our place in the finals with 16 points after a tough 16 games.
Aahan, Year Eight
As a member of the Wilson's chess team, I am thrilled to recount our recent triumph in the inter-school chess match. We showcased unparalleled dominance in the inter-school chess match, securing victory in all four rounds without conceding a single game, and finishing in first place. There were around 16 different teams from different schools. Our exceptional performance not only secured our qualification for the national final but also proved our unity as a team.
We went into the first round confident and felt motivated by Mr Stobie-Jones’s encouraging words. The chess match comprised four intense rounds, each presenting unique challenges for the participating teams. Led by the U-13A team consisting of seven skilled players, Wilson’s demonstrated unwavering determination and strategic brilliance throughout the competition. The team emerged as the driving force behind Wilson's resounding success. With a perfect score of 16 wins out of 16 games, we left a notable mark at the competition, showcasing not only individual skill but also remarkable teamwork.
In a particularly noteworthy encounter, the Wilson’s A team faced off against the B team in the final round of the match. Despite the friendly rivalry, the A team demonstrated unwavering focus and determination, securing victory with a flawless 4-0 scoreline. While the B team displayed commendable effort, they unfortunately fell short of qualifying for the national final, ultimately finishing third in the tournament.
Following our impeccable performance, jubilation erupted among the members of the A team. Our hard-earned victory not only secured a place in the national final, but also showed our dedication and commitment to the sport. Pleased with our success, we are now eagerly anticipating the upcoming national final, where we aim to further display our skills and compete for first place. On behalf of both the teams, I would like to thank Mr Stobie-Jones for arranging this event and taking us there.
Jai (Year Eight)