First Ealing Secondary School Chess Tournament Held
54 students from 16 schools take part in competition
Competitors at the tournament
December 7, 2023
The Ellen Wilkinson School, with the assistance of Ealing Chess Club, hosted the 1st Ealing Secondary School chess tournament this Sunday (3 December).
92 students from 16 different secondary/middle schools signed up for the 54 places.
As well as the host school, others taking part included Twyford C of E High School, Ada Lovelace C of E School, Greenford High School, Elthorne Park High School, Drayton Manor High School , Alec Reed Academy, Chiswick School, St Marks, West London Free School, Gumley House Convent school, William Perkin, Ark Soane Academy, Northolt High School, Isleworth and Syon and Durston House.
Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq was in attendance.
After battling through five rounds of chess over 4 hours, the top four players scored exactly the same number of points. At a nail-biting wait, the principal arbiter went through to the third round of tie breaking to decide the eventual winner.
The top three places were awarded with trophies, 4th-6th places with medals and an additional trophy was given to the top girl. Mr Lorin D’Costa (IM, founder of ‘She Plays to Win’) provided the trophies and medals
Top girl: Maria Maqsood (The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls)
1st Place: Luke (St Marks)
2nd Place: Aurelio (Ada Lovelace C of E school)
3rd Place: Kayden (Twyford C of E High School)
4th Place: David (Twyford C of E High School)
5th Place: Adam (Drayton Manor High School)
6th Place: Dhanraj (Durston House)
The prize winners with Mr D’Costa (left) and Dr Rowden (right)
The competition was officially English Chess Federation (ECF) rated, and it was offered to students and parents as free compared to the more usual charge of £35-50 for similar tournaments.
It had an equal number of male and female chess players in the tournament, which is believed to be the first of its kind.
The average attendance in free chess tournaments is between 60-75%, however on Sunday at the Ellen Wilkinson the attendance was over 96%.
Dr Neville Rowden (Ealing Chess Club Secretary) said, “For many students, this was their first official ECF rated tournament, and hopefully this free tournament opportunity that was offered by the Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls will be the start of their joyful chess journey.
“It was a fantastic day for the Ealing Chess Club (founded in 1885) to recruit local chess talent: some players have been invited to represent the Ealing Chess Club in tournament leagues.”
Free professional chess coaching sessions are offered to students at Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls. If you would like your child to attend professional chess sessions at the Ealing Chess club, contact Dr Rowden: secretary.ealing.chess.club@gmail.com .
A parent of one of the participants said, “My son said it was better organised than the Delancey tournaments (paid tournaments) that he has attended… he said that without me asking, so clearly he thought all of you did a brilliant job.”
The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls is a state non-selective secondary girls’ school and this term it has been working closely with Chess in Schools and Communities to provide free weekly after school chess coaching sessions to students who are attending the school. It will continue to work with Mr D'Costa to host more free chess tournaments to encourage more girls to get involved in playing chess.
You can also get play chess in the local area by joining the Ealing Chess Club which meets every Monday evening at Actonians Sports Club.
Ellen Wilkinson School is on Queen's Drive (W3 0HW).
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