English Primary Schools’ Chess Association
Inter-Association Team Championship
Major Final for Under 11s.
Saturday 14th March for Under 11s at Beech Hall School, Beech Hall Drive, Macclesfield.
Nottinghamshire did very well finishing in eighth position in the inter Association National finals. Nottinghamshire were the highest East Midlands county and even finished ten points clear of Leicestershire, who beat us in the Midlands Zone earlier in the month.
We had the benefit of a full squad including reserves. We even were able to strengthen our team as some players who weren’t available for the Zonal were able to make the Final. Sadly our board one from the Zonals was unable to attend the final due to a previous commitment. This gave Mihel G and Adam A the chance to play on the top boards.
We had a few younger players in our squad but their ECF rating was above 1000 points and they were placed quite high in our board order. This looks promising for next year as they will be eligible to play next year. However we had a few players below the rating of 1000 and this meant, in a National final, that they would have to play exceptionally well to get a positive result.
In the first round we played one of the top southern anssoc and did remarkably well just losing 5-7. It gave us hope. We came crashing down though in round two losing to Richmond 1-11. Our only win came curtesy of a great game by Harry S.
In round three we got our own back by beating Wirral by the same score 11-1. We were awarded a bye in the last round so it was enough to place us eighth overall.
You can see all player’s individual performances.
A few Nottinghamshire players deserve a special mention scoring two points out of three in a national final: Harry S, Elizabeth de B, Sai Pranav P, Will D and Thomas S, congratulations to them.
County Team Results can be found on Chess Results.
Thanks to all parents who have supported us and their children in playing for the county this season.