Lunchtime chess tournament

Learners at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan have been taking part in a chess tournament in the Library at lunchtimes.

Matthew Fox and Tibore Hangyal from Year 11 decided to organise the event after more and more learners were taking part in chess games in the Library at lunchtime.

Matthew and Tibore were taught to play chess by their fathers when they were both seven.

Tibore believes, “Chess really works your brain. You have to be strategic and consider each of your moves from various points. Matthew is amazing at chess. His moves are unbeatable and he is one of the favourites to win.”

Ethan Moss, who is still in the tournament, added, “The tournament is a good idea and it would be great to take part in another one.”

Mrs Hickey, Library/Literacy Intervention Coordinator KS3, who suggested the idea to Tibore and Matthew, said, “When I introduced the chess boards into the library, I didn’t think they would take off as well as they have. The learners have been queueing up each break and lunchtime to play. They have organised every detail themselves and it has been a pleasure watching them play with so much enthusiasm, concentration, imagination and calculating tactics.”

At the end of each lunchtime each pair photograph their board on their phones and use the photograph the next day to continue the game with the pieces in the correct place.

Learners signed up for the competition last week and the tournament is well underway. It was originally thought it would take a week but more than expected have entered the tournament so it may be some days before the winner and the runner-up receive their prizes.