1 Mar 2008 - Chess Champion Challenge

Chess Champion Challenge

Saturday 1 March

Teesside High School

Former British Senior Champions David Smith and Norman Stephenson made a big impression at the latest Chess Links Project event.

It’s not very often that one gets to meet - and play! - against a British Champion in any sport or game but our keen chess juniors had the chance to do just that at the weekend.

David Smith, the reigning County co-Champion, started the day with a simultaneous display against all 18 of the participants.

Trying hard to avoid defeat were some of our most promising young stars, namely:

Niall, Michael, Elise, Kathryn, Becky, Katie W, Joe, Ryan, Katie A, Tom, Ben A, Arunima, Abigail, Josh, Ben P, Becky, Melissa and Adya.

After an hour and a half of extremely instructive play, David managed to win all of the games. Niall Garner, champion at our most recent junior event, lasted the longest.

Meanwhile, losing players were given a Masterclass by Norman Stephenson, enabling them to learn many secrets of successful chess playing.

The champions switched roles for the second half of the event. Norman managed to match David’s score with a clean 18-0 result. This time two young girls - Elise and Katie W - were the last to finish by some margin, with Katie W. lasting the longest of all.

The whole event was a golden opportunity and I’m sure that the juniors will have absorbed plenty of chess instruction and will all be better players having taken part.

Thank you, Norman and David, for a great and very memorable day!