LOCAL GIRLS WIN THREE TITLES AT CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Alcuin School, a Leeds based independent day school, is celebrating hosting the 3rd Yorkshire Girls’ Open Chess Championships with three title wins for its own pupils.
Despite facing competition from some of the top junior female chess players in the North of England, three girls from the Alcuin School were crowned West Yorkshire Champions. Quiss Craddock scooped the Under 8’s title with Brie Grierson and Yasmin Niksaz winning the Under 10’s and Under 12’s categories respectively. Brie Grierson also claimed the Yorkshire Open Under 10’s ahead of 26 other competitors in her section.
The Yorkshire Girls’ Chess Open is the largest event of its kind for girls’ chess in the region and attracts competitors from a wide variety of schools. This year saw in excess of fifty two take part in the event from schools across Yorkshire and as far as Lancashire. The event is sponsored by the Leeds Junior Chess Association and the British Chess Federation (BCF) and consists of a gruelling schedule of six rounds running from 10am through to 3pm.
The event holds special significance for the school which has played a huge part in the promotion of girl’s chess across the region. Earlier this year the Alcuin School was awarded the British Chess Educational Trust Award which is made by the BCF to schools in recognition of their achievements in and promotion of chess. The Alcuin School received a recommendation for the award by the Northern Counties Chess Union and was cited by the Yorkshire Chess Association in recognition of the work the school has done to promote the game, particularly amongst girls across Yorkshire.

John Hipshon, Headteacher at The Alcuin School, said: “We were delighted to have been given the opportunity to host such a fantastic event and the three wins for our pupils has made it even more special! Chess continues to play an important part in the life of the school and is something which is enjoyed by the vast majority of our pupils. Historically chess has always been more popular amongst male pupils so we are delighted to have such strong female players within the school.”