Mary Elton Pupils Shine at London Chess Classic
By Schools Correspondent
Six pupils from Miss Brown’s Chess Club at Mary Elton School in Clevedon, Somerset enjoyed an exceptional day of elite competition and learning at the London Chess Classic, held at the Emirates Stadium.
Teal, Dylan, Jonty, Sofia, Rhoswen and Max were selected to attend the prestigious event through Chess in Schools and Communities, supported by regional coordinator Jane Norton.
The visit gave the children a rare opportunity to learn from professional chess tutors and grandmasters.
Throughout the day, pupils took part in high-quality coaching sessions, listened to inspiring talks on strategy and resilience, explored the stadium and even competed in a two-against-one challenge match against a grandmaster.
Teal and Rhoswen impressed during this challenge and were rewarded with book prizes for their success.
The highlight came during the afternoon tournament, where all six children represented Mary Elton with confidence, maturity and sportsmanship.
Every pupil performed impressively, with Max proudly scooping a medal after achieving a high points total in a competitive field.
Miss Cheryl Brown said:
“We are incredibly proud of how the children represented Mary Elton. Their enthusiasm, focus and resilience were evident throughout the day, and the medal success was a fantastic reward for their commitment and hard work.”
The pupils were chosen from Miss Brown’s weekly chess club at Mary Elton, which is led by Chess in Schools tutors and focuses on developing problem-solving skills, confidence and concentration alongside a love of the game.
Experiences such as the London Chess Classic are among the many opportunities Chess in Schools and Communities provides for children throughout the year.
The school also expressed its gratitude to Chess in Schools and Communities for making the visit possible, and to the parents who accompanied the pupils and enabled them to take part.
