May is Women’s Chess Month at Hammersmith

The UK Chess Challenge Terafinal returned to Blenheim Palace for the 2026 edition. More than 10,000 children competed in the earlier rounds with just 60 finalists remaining: 12 in each of five age categories. Five current and two former Chess Rising Stars students qualified, which is a new record for us. 

Yuk Hei secured his place in the U14s at the last minute, winning the Challengers in Peterborough on tie-break after scoring 7/9. Below, WFM Sarah Longson presents his trophy and invitation to the Terafinal.

Few junior tournaments can rival the setting of the Terafinal. Blenheim Palace provides a fittingly regal backdrop for the royal game! Coach Chris visited our students over the weekend to offer his encouragement. He soon realised that the parents and coaches were, if anything, more nervous than the children.

In an attempt to settle their nerves, Chris joined Aden’s dad for a walk across the palace grounds to the aptly named Column of Victory, a 41-metre monument to the Duke of Marlborough, completed in 1731. Suitably impressed, they managed to resist checking the live boards for nearly an hour!

The format was demanding, 11 rounds of rapid across the weekend in a round-robin. The high standard of preparation was evident from the first round, with many players trying a variety of fresh opening lines. 

Aden finished a fantastic 2nd place in the U12 category with 9/11, matched by Martin who also finished 2nd with 9/11 in the U8s. Our other students also enjoyed notable victories and came close to further successes, gaining valuable experience to build on in future tournaments.

Many congratulations to our current students Yuk Hei, Aden, Jorge, Martin and Tristan. Reaching the Terafinal was outstanding and we are excited to see how they continue to develop as players.

The EJCOA Zonal Tournament brought together 74 children aged 6 to 13 for a highly competitive day of chess at the Everyday Church in Wimbledon.

The tournament reached full capacity three weeks in advance (soothing the nerves of the organisers for our first tournament!). The length of the waiting list was clear evidence of the growing enthusiasm for junior competitive chess in London.

For many of the participants it was to be their first experience of an in-person chess tournament. Remarkably, the appeal of the EJCOA National Finals places on offer meant several families travelled more than two hours to attend.

Qualification Pathway

The event served as a qualifying tournament for the English Junior Coaches and Organisers Association (EJCOA) National Youth Championships Finals, to be held at Nottingham High School in July. The EJCOA Finals provide a valuable opportunity for the top young players across the UK to compete in a FIDE-rated standardplay environment.

Experienced Arbiters

On the day, our ECF-qualified team helping the children were:

• Chief Arbiter: IA Adam Raoof
• Deputy Chief Arbiter: WFM Maria Manelidou
• Section Arbiters: Chris Russell, Ryames Chan and CM Thomas Villiers

The additional support of venue helpers Sara and Emilia, ensured a welcoming environment for players and their families.

Sportsmanship

Across the playing hall, concentration was intense and both the standard of play and level of focus were impressive. The section arbiters noted the excellent attitude of the participants throughout the whole day.

Every player received a commemorative Chess Rising Stars pen and a multi-coloured chess piece to keep as a souvenir.

Results

Congratulations to the EJCOA National Finals Qualifiers:

U8 Boy = Ezra C (5/5)
U8 Girl = Aakruthi R (3/5)

U10 Boys = Liantai L & Dias N (4.5/5)
U10 Girl = Lara M (4/5)

U12 Boys = Theodore T & Reidan M (4.5/5)
U12 Girl = Ellene A Z (3/5)

U14 Boy = Fedor B (3/5)

Growing interest from older students at Chess Rising Stars’ Wimbledon clubs has prompted the launch of a new Sunday chess session for teenagers and adults, starting in January 2027.

The new club will build on the popularity of the existing afternoon sessions, providing more opportunities for older players to develop their chess, play regular games and take part in friendly competition. The club will also welcome adults, including parents of existing students and those with no previous connection to Chess Rising Stars, who would like to improve their chess.

Classes will combine coaching, practical play and an internal tournament, initially taught by FIDE Instructor and Candidate Master Tom Villiers. Feedback from participants during the Spring Term will help Chess Rising Stars assess the best balance of coaching, games and tournament play, including whether longer sessions would be beneficial.

Chess Rising Stars has applied to join the Surrey County Chess Association and plans to enter a team in the Surrey Introductory League for the 2027/28 season. This would give club members the opportunity to represent Chess Rising Stars in ECF-rated competition.

The new club will meet at William Morris House, Wimbledon, on Sundays from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, beginning on 17 January 2027. Both existing students and new members are welcome.

Registration is now open for the Spring Term. Full details, including fees and session dates, are available on the Wimbledon Chess Rising Stars (14+) course page.