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)
Noah representing the National Chess Junior Squad in Czechia
