After three successive triumphs in the Cambs Schools Chess League, it might appear a disappointing comedown for the A team to finish in third place. However, the league has seen a marked rise in the standard of play with many older children, senior schools and some very strong club sides now among the record 36 teams. Failure to defeat some of the weaker teams more comprehensively may have cost the chance of a second place finish. The A team actually defeated second place Cambourne Village College and won 14 of the 15 matches played.
Shashank P on top board was outstanding and undefeated. There was strong support provided by James W, Hugh E, James Z, Alex D and Jake E, with occasional appearances from Danny W and Nico D. The B team did well to finish 6th, Charles T, James T and Jack M being consistently reliable. In the lower teams the Ds did very well to finish 2nd in the lower division. Ethan L, John S, Tobias GZ, Lucas Z, Adam S and Otto PJ all contributed impressively.
Megafinal 2025
King’s had 24 players entering the County Junior Chess Championships, or Megafinal. Players who score 3.5 points out of 6 qualify for the National Semi-Finals (Gigafinals) of the UK Chess Challenge. 11 of the King’s players achieved this. There were 2 age group winners and four others who won medals for being second or third. This total of 6 was the highest by any school: James Z (joint runner up in Under 10 boys) Lily E (runner up under 12 girls), Shashank P (3rd under 14 boys), Cindy T (winner in under 10 girls), Rachel Z (runner up under 8 girls). Hugo E, Ming S and Jack M all narrowly missed a medal. Other qualifiers were Jacky L, James W, Henry S and Xien H. In other megafinals Alex D, Nico D, Danny W and Anthony W also qualified.
Successful gigafinalists are invited to the National terafinal for the top few players in each age group nationally. Shashank P and Hugo E won through to this stage in 2024 and both are to be congratulated on a decent showing.