Scarcroft and York College triumph in interschools chess competition

The fourth annual York interschools chess competition took place on Sunday (November 10).

The event, held at Bootham School, saw 22 primary and secondary school teams participate from across York and North Yorkshire.

York College claimed the secondary title, as well as the coveted Ewan Cameron Chess Set (named after the former president of York Chess Club), after the team beat previous winners Fulford School on a tiebreak.

The York College team, consisting of Halen Harrison, Magnus Lavergren, Koby Dickson, Peter Foster, Elias Neuberg, and Tatenda Mitzi, collected four out of five match points.

The team's win marks the first time since the tournament was founded that Fulford have been defeated.

In the primary category, Scarcroft Kings reclaimed their 2022 title thanks to the efforts of team members Griffin, Justin, Redding, and Heath.

Scarcroft Kings won among primary schools. Griffin is pictured holding the shield (Image: Mike Shaw)

They defeated last year’s victors, St Peter’s, with Knavesmire Primary School finishing a "strong third."

Scarcroft win back the Simon Benedictus shield, named for a strong supporter of junior chess whose legacy has helped to fund the competition.

Prizes were awarded by organiser, Ben Rich, who said: "Schools chess in York is going from strength to strength.

"Our junior teams are competing with real success across the county, while two individual York players represented England earlier this year in the prestigious home nations Glorney Cup.

"The team has further been bolstered by former Ukrainian under-8 champion, Maksym Kryshtafor, now a pupil at Bootham school."

Former Ukrainian under-8 champion, Maksym Kryshtafor, is now a pupil at Bootham School. He is pictured (right) playing against England player, Aaron Rich, 17, of Fulford (Image: Mike Shaw)

From March 21 to 23 next year, York will host a competition at the Guildhall in which national and regional junior teams from across Europe will compete.

The competition will, for the first time, include a representative team from Yorkshire, as well as one from the English Chess Federation.

For those wanting to further develop their chess, weekly drop-in junior clubs are held at Guppy’s Enterprise Club (Wednesdays 5.30pm) and York Explore Library (Sundays 2pm).

For more information about junior chess in York, please call Ben on 07469159134.