MEMBERS of the chess club at Warrington’s Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School travelled to Bolton to take part in the English Chess Federation Schools u19 tournament at Bolton School.
There were some very experienced and older students taking part in the event, including a couple of England juniors and county players.
After several tough matches, Boteler had won 4 – 2 and the team were smiling, glad to be leaving on a positive note.
Computer Studies teacher Jonathan Miller, who runs the school’s chess club, said: “The students had a great time, enjoyed both the chess and the cultural experience at Bolton School and playing against other students.
“Some valuable lessons were learned about taking your time and thinking, avoiding mates in six moves, watching for discovered attacks and even on the psychology behind chess and the use of chess clocks.”
The Boteler students have the chance to qualify for the next round, via an online repechage within the next couple of weeks, which will played in school.
The team also has an opportunity to enter the schools’ nation chess puzzle-solving competition before Christmas, so they will be working towards this as well.
