British Schools Chess Championship
The British Schools Chess Championship is an annual competition for school chess teams that has been in existence continuously from 1958. The tournament is administered by the English Chess Federation and is open to all schools from the United Kingdom. The competition has been won by teams from all four countries of the UK.
At the height of the tournaments popularity in the 1970s, in excess of 1000 teams took part. Unfortunately since the teacher strikes of the mid-1980s a continuous decline in the number of teams has taken place. In 2007-08, the accepted entry increased from 93 teams to 135 teams.[1] This represents the highest number of entries for four years.
Contents |
[edit] Eligibility
Entry is open to any school in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All players must be under-19 on 31 August of the year in which the competition begins. Teams are made up of six players, with an age handicap system in operation based on the average age of each team.
| Age Difference | Winning Score for older team |
|---|---|
| 0 to 11 months | No handicap - board count |
| 1 year to 1 year 11 months | 3.5-2.5 |
| 2 years to 2 years 11 months | 4-2 |
| 3 years to 3 years 11 months | 4.5-1.5 |
| 4 years or more | 5-1 |
Teams initially compete in regional zones with the winner of each zone progressing to the National stage of the competition. There have been four occasions where Primary Schools have won their Regional finals against secondary and sixth form teams. Two of these occasions were by St Teresa's RC Primary School, Colchester.[2]
[edit] Finals
The tradition used to be that the final four teams got together at a top London hotel for the finals. For a long time the finals were contested at the St Ermin's Hotel, but with the diminishing numbers the finals are now held at 'less prestigious' venues outside London. Since 1994 there has also been a Plate Competition for regional zone runners up.[citation needed]
[edit] Notable players
The competition has been graced by many top players over the years. These include:
- GM Michael Adams (Truro School)
- GM Nigel Short (Bolton School)
- GM Tony Miles (King Edward's School, Birmingham)
- GM Julian Hodgson (St Paul's School, London)
- GM Raymond Keene (Dulwich College)
- GM James Plaskett (Bedford Modern School)
[edit] Sponsorship
In 1938 The Sunday Times (UK) made an offer to the then British Chess Federation to donate a trophy for a competition between teams from Public schools.[3] Before further investigation of this offer could be completed the war intervened. Finally in 1957-58 competition got under way under the sponsorship of The Sunday Times (UK) newspaper. Their patronage continued until 1983, when their sister paper The Times took over. Since the withdrawal of sponsorship by The Times after the 2001 finals, the championship has continued without a sponsor.
[edit] Current status of competition
Entering the 2007-08 season (the competition's 51st year) fortunately the tournament can once again be called a UK championship, as a zone including teams from Scotland and Northern Ireland has been accepted. Sadly, only one school from Scotland has entered.[citation needed]
[edit] National finalists
[edit] 1950s
| Winners | Runners Up | 3rd Place | 4th Place | ENTRY | |
| 1958 | Calday Grange GS, Wirral | Varndean | Nottingham High School | Colfe's School | 241 |
| 1959 | Calday Grange GS, Wirral | William Ellis, London | Queen Elizabeth's GS, Barnet | Glyn Grammar School, Ewell | 247 |
[edit] 1960s
[edit] 1970s
[edit] 1980s
[edit] 1990s
[edit] 2000s
[edit] 2010s
| Winners | Runners Up | 3rd Place | 4th Place | ENTRY | |
| 2010 | Wellington College, Berkshire | Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree | Wilson's School, Wallington | Manchester Grammar School | |
| 2011 | Manchester Grammar School | Reading School | Royal Grammar School, Guildford | Norwich School |
[edit] Plate
[edit] 1990s
| Winners | Runners Up | 3rd Place | |
| 1994 | Methodist College Belfast | Winchester College | |
| 1995 | St Columb's College, Derry | ||
| 1996 | Tiffin School | ||
| 1997 | St Olave's Grammar School, Orpington | King Edward's (Camp Hill), Birmingham | |
| 1998 | King's College, Wimbledon | ||
| 1999 | King's College, Wimbledon |
[edit] 2000s
| Winners | Runners Up | 3rd Place | |
| 2000 | Oakham School | ||
| 2001 | Hampton School | Greenwood Academy, Irvine | King Edward VI Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham & Dr Challoners GS, Amersham |
| Winners | Runners Up | 3rd Place | 4th Place | |
| 2002 | Blue Coat School, Oldham | King Edward's Camp Hill, Birmingham | St Olave's Grammar School, Orpington | Torquay Boys' Grammar School |
| 2003 | Manchester Grammar School | Nottingham High School B Team | City of London School | St Olave's Grammar School, Orpington |
| 2004 | Nottingham High School | Commonwealth School, Swindon | St Olave's Grammar School, Orpington | Lancaster Royal Grammar School |
| 2005 | Hampton School | Nottingham High School B Team | Oakham School | Southend High School |
| 2006 | Monmouth School | Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree | Royal Grammar School, Guildford | Yarm School |
| 2007 | Monmouth School | King Edward's School, Birmingham | Queen Elizabeth's GS, Barnet | Aughton St Michael's Primary, Ormskirk |
| 2008 | Wilson's School, Wallington | Wellington College, Berkshire | Nottingham High School B Team | Leeds Grammar School |
| 2009 | Wilson's School, Wallington | Reading School | Winchester College | Aughton St Michael's Primary, Ormskirk |
[edit] 2010s
| Winners | Runners Up | 3rd Place | 4th Place | |
| 2010 | Homefield Prep School | Millfield School | King Edward's Camp Hill, Birmingham | Aughton St Michael's Primary, Ormskirk |
| 2010 | Wellington College | St Olave's Grammar School | Grammar School at Leeds | Magdalen College School |
[edit] Sources
- ^ "Competition entry list at Southern Counties Chess Union web site". http://www.sccu.ndo.co.uk/times.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
- ^ Walker, P: "Times Schools Zone", Ilford Recorder, 1997-02-06
- ^ Belfast Newsletter Chess Column 24/03/1938 Page 12
- ^ The Times 29/06/1990 Page 2 and 30/06/1990 Page 3
- ^ The Times 05/07/1991 Page 2 and 06/07/1991 Page 2
- ^ The Times 03/07/1992 Page 2 and 04/07/1992 Page 2
- ^ The Times 02/07/1993 Page 9 and 03/07/1993 Page 9
- ^ The Times 02/07/1994 Page 7
- ^ The Times 01/07/1995 Page 2
- The Times
- The Sunday Times (UK)
- Southern Counties Chess Union Website
- ECF Schools Website
