EPSCA National U11 Team Championships: Regional qualifiers.

Magdalen College School’s U11 chess players had an exceptional day at the Somerset qualifier for this year’s national U11 team championships.

The U11A team won all five of its matches, finishing as clear champions and gold medal winners from the sixteen teams that were present.  Alex Anderton, Richard Woods-Rogan and Jacob Coxon on boards 2,3 and 4 all won all of their games, while Daniel d’Souza-Eva scored 3½/5 on board 1 and Henry Phillips 4½/5 on board 5.

 

The team therefore qualifies for the national semi-finals at Brean Sands in May. Results: Won 5-0 v The Fitzmaurice School Won 5-0 v The Lawn, Swindon Won 4-1 v Broadclyst, Essex Won 5-0 v MCS ‘B’ Won 4-1 v The Abbey ‘A’

Our U11B team also played exceptionally well. It was unlucky to be drawn against our own ‘A’ team after winning its first three matches, but a confident final round victory enabled it to score enough points (14½) to also qualify for the national semi-finals, coming fifth.

Results:

Won 3-2 v St Edward’s, Bath
Won 4-1 v Westrop
Won 3½-1½ v Blagdon
Lost 0-5 v MCS ‘A’
Won 4-1 v Newbridge ‘A’

The performance of eight year old David Phillips playing for the MCS ‘B’ team on board 5 in the last round caused quite a stir after he won a brilliant tactical game against his Newbridge opponent and finished with a neat Bishop, Rook and pawn check mate.