Spelthorne Borough Junior Chess Championships 2012

22 Mar 2012

A record number of fifty children from seventeen schools entered the fourth Spelthorne Junior Chess Championships at Staines Prep on Saturday 17 March. The championships are organised by Dr Noel Stewart following an initiative led by Mike Basman, organiser of the UK Chess Challenge.

The competition was open to boys and girls who live, or attend a school in Spelthorne. There were five rounds with a trophy awarded to the winner of each of the three age sections, U9 (9-year-olds), U11 (11-year-olds) and U15 (15-year-olds).

The U15 champion, with five straight wins was Scott Anderson (Hampton School), last year’s U11 champion. Michal Duda (St Paul’s School) and Angelo Umashangar (Tiffin School) came joint second.

The U11 champion, also winning all five games was Louis Huang-Dixon (St Nicholas School). Stephon Umashangar (Staines Prep) came second with four points.

The U9 section was again the largest, attracting twenty-five entrants. Arjan Singh Tucker (Staines Prep) won all his five games. At seven years of age, he became the youngest ever U9 Champion. Joint runners-up on four points were Joshua Clough (Danesfield Manor) and Joseph Kerridge (Chennestone School).

Ellen McGregor U11 (U9 Champion in 2011) and Heather McGregor U9, both from Staines Prep, won trophies for achieving the best scores of all girl competitors.

Competitors who completed all five rounds received a Certificate of Participation, with those gaining three points also winning a rosette. The winners were presented with their trophies by the Mayor, Councillor Sam Budd, who was impressed by the game he played with one competitor and the enthusiasm of all taking part.

Photo (L-R): The girl chess winners – Heather McGregor age 8 and Ellen McGregor age 9 (sisters) both from Staines Prep standing with The Mayor, Councillor Sam Budd at the Spelthorne Junior Chess Championships