An exciting Inter-House Chess Final between Priory and New House

On Tuesday 14^th January, we held the Final of the Inter-House Chess Competition. During the Christmas Term, we held a three-way Girls’ Section (won by Priory House) and a three-way Boys’ Section (won by New House), so this was a straightforward competition between Priory (represented by Lucy and Sophie) and New (represented by Ludo and James).

Ludo and Lucy’s match was exciting. Ludo made an early move that would appear to many to be a blunder when he allowed Lucy to capture his Queen. This “Queen’s Gambit” strategy is sometimes employed by players to gain an advantage in terms of position. The advantage for Ludo was not immediately obvious and Lucy was very close to achieving a checkmate, but in the end Ludo’s experience of the endgame proved invaluable and he won the game.

James and Sophie’s match had a very different feel. James played carefully, steadily building up his strength on the board until Sophie was simply overpowered, with no pieces left to defend her King.

This was a convincing win for New House, and means that the Chess Trophy will soon be returning to New House after its year spent adorning the Blackford House Common Room.

Tomi Owens - Chess Master

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