The group’s first challenge produced some great matches

The Cotswold School’s first chess teams secured qualification to the regional stage of the National Schools Chess Championships, run by the English Chess Federation, in a spirited and well fought competition hosted at Radley College, Oxford.

Competing against private and grammar schools, our players performed impressively, carefully combining tactics, strategy and ruthless play to defeat much more experienced teams.

They were not daunted by playing against sometimes older and certainly more trained and coached opponents.  They will continue to train and practise ahead of the next round after Christmas.

Special thanks to Mrs Dowie for setting up Chess Club, which includes many players from younger year groups as well as this group of competitors, and for her passionate coaching. Thank you Mr Webb, for driving the minibus.