FULFORD AND ST PETER’S TRIUMPH IN YORK’S THIRD ANNUAL SCHOOLS CHESS COMPETITION

Twenty-four teams from across York and North Yorkshire competed on Sunday 26th November in the largest York Schools’ chess competition yet.

Held at Fishergate School, Fulford Secondary School retained their title and the Ewan Cameron Chess Set (named for the former President of York Chess Club) for the third year running.

The Fulford team of Aaron Rich (16), Eric Lyu (17), Adrian Lee (17) and Kai Taylor (16) won every single one of their games, scoring a remarkable 20/20. Scarborough College and St Peter’s were second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, St Peter’s Junior School won the primary title with a team of Bertie Leatham (10), Max Duemmer Wrigley (9), Zak Powell (10) and Arthur Pointon (10). They narrowly held off St Peter’s B team, and a team of ‘all stars’ from a variety of York schools to win the Simon Benedictus shield, named for a strong supporter of junior chess whose legacy has helped fund the competition.

Prizes were awarded by International Chess Master and editor of Chess Magazine, Richard Palliser. Organiser, Ben Rich, said:

“Schools chess in York is going from strength to strength. From just 12 teams competing three years ago, we have now doubled that and we could have had more had we had the space.

“The Netflix show, The Queen’s Gambit, and covid gave chess an initial boost, but we have been able to ride the wave with weekly drop-in junior clubs at Guppy’s Enterprise Club (Wednesdays 5.30pm) and York Explore Library (Sundays 2pm) attracting ever increasing numbers.”