Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge – Southern Gigafinal, 22nd-23rd July 2017, Orleans Park School, Twickenham
The Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge journey started back in January in school chess clubs across the country with over 40,000 children entering nationwide.
In Sussex, nearly 80 Schools joined in the fun this year resulting in 405 children taking up their qualifying places at the Sussex Megafinal held in May, of whom over 153 qualified for the Southern Gigafinal. Of those, 123 took up their places, becoming part of the last 2000 players left in the competition nationwide – a fantastic achievement.
Younger boys (U7 – U10) compete on the Saturday, while all other age groups and all girl sections compete on the Sunday. Where entry numbers are large in an age-group the entry is split into parallel ‘A’ and ‘B’ sections designed to be of equal strength. Section winners earn the title Ultimo (boys), or Ultima (girls), and qualify for the final stage of the competition – the national Terafinal in August. In the event of a tie; prize money is shared but tie-break rules determine the title of Ultimo/a.
Those coming second or third qualify for the ‘Challengers’ competition which runs alongside the Terafinal. This usually requires a score of at least 4½ out of 6! New for this year everyone who scored 3½ points or more won a medal.
Well done to everyone who took part – the Gigafinal is a unique event which offers the opportunity to play against the very best in the South of England – and that will only strengthen your play. Whatever your score, come back again next year determined to improve your performance.
Prizewinners and Qualifiers:
| U7B ‘B’ | Zen Rajah | 4 | Medal | |
| U7B ‘B’ | Charlie Wannasin-Bell | 4 | Medal | |
| U7B ‘B’ | Rohan Gibbons | 3½ | Medal | |
| U7G | Amelie Rees | 4½ | Medal | |
| U8B ‘B’ | Thomas Kindell | 4 | Medal | |
| U8B ‘B’ | Toby Ralph | 4 | Medal | |
| U8B ‘B’ | James Bashford | 3½ | Medal | |
| U8B ‘B’ | Arun Gibbons | 3½ | Medal | |
| U9B ‘A’ | Abhi Jadav | 4 | Medal | |
| U9B ‘B’ | Henry Laurillard | 3½ | Medal | |
| U9B ‘B’ | Harry Thurston | 3½ | Medal | |
| U9B ‘C’ | Pranav Labroo | 4 | Medal | |
| U9B ‘C’ | Rafe Chapman | 3½ | Medal | |
| U9G | Elena Currah | 5½ | Ultima | Terafinal |
| U9G | Lucy Hopkirk | 4 | Medal | |
| U9G | Sammy Sareen | 4 | Medal | |
| U10B ‘B’ | Solomon Mitchell | 4½ | Medal | |
| U10B ‘C’ | Joshua Bee | 5 | Challengers | |
| U10B ‘C’ | Jacob Wynn | 3½ | Medal | |
| U10G | Sophie Rees | 5 | Challengers | |
| U10G | Maya McMahon | 3½ | Medal | |
| U11B ‘A’ | Thomas Dan | 5 | Challengers | |
| U11B ‘A’ | Cassius Johnson | 4 | Medal | |
| U11B ‘A’ | Thomas Martin | 4 | Medal | |
| U11B ‘A’ | Henry Adams | 3½ | Medal | |
| U11B ‘A’ | Isaac Cooper | 3½ | Medal | |
| U11B ‘A’ | Billy Hopkins | 3½ | Medal | |
| U11B ‘B’ | Tom Howeson | 3½ | Medal | |
| U11B ‘B’ | Bobbie Ridley | 3½ | Medal | |
| U11G | Elizabeth Finn | 5½ | 1st= | Challengers |
| U11G | Laura Borland | 4½ | Medal | |
| U11G | Lydia Munn | 4½ | Medal | |
| U11G | Ruby Nunns | 3½ | Medal | |
| U12B | Edward Gray | 5 | Challengers | |
| U12B | Max Wilton | 5 | Challengers | |
| U12B | Xavier Laurillard | 4½ | Medal | |
| U12B | Giovanni Currah | 3½ | Medal | |
| U12B | Daniel Longley | 3½ | Medal | |
| U12B | Luke Moody | 3½ | Medal | |
| U12G | Polina Shchepinova | 6 | Ultima | Terafinal |
| U13B | Calum Salmons | 5 | Challengers | |
| U13B | Michael Banks | 4 | Medal | |
| U13B | Ryan Sargent | 3½ | Medal | |
| U14B | Scott Borland | 5 | Challengers | |
| U14B | Oli Howell | 5 | Challengers | |
| U14B | Daniel Finn | 4½ | Medal | |
| U14G | Lucy Bennet-Stevens | 4½ | Ultima | Terafinal |
| U15B | Dominic Miller | 3½ | Medal | |
| U16B | Mikolaj Rogacewicz | 4 | Challengers | |
| U16G | Cassie Graham | 3 | Ultima | Terafinal |
Well done to all the Sussex players who competed – just to qualify for the Gigafinal is an achievement in itself.