Chess Champions 2004

The Chad Vale Chess team swept the board at the Birmingham Primary Championships. We have now held this title for four years running, much to Mr. Haselgrove's regret, who'd promised the whole team a day out at the cinema and a MacDonalds if they won again! He has now re-mortgaged his house, and is planning on taking them this week!

Here are the details about our Chess Club, from one of our top Year Six players, Nathan and a history of the Chad Vale Chess Club below:

History of the Chess Club

The current Chad Vale Chess Team is the most successful team in the school’s history. They have won the Birmingham Primary Schools Chess Championship for the last three years and are attempting an unprecedented fourth consecutive title. They have qualified for the semi-final this year and have not lost a match against a Birmingham school since the final in 2000!

Chad Vale Chess Club started in 1992 when Mr. Yeomans asked the Head Teacher at the time (Miss Thorne) if he could teach chess to those year 6 children who were interested. The first class was only 12 children but they were all very keen and the Chess Club was born.

The school entered a team in the Birmingham Primary Schools Chess Championship but lost their first match against Perry Beeches 3.5-2.5 (teams are six-a-side). However, they won the rest of their group matches and qualified for the semi-final. This was a 3-3 draw but Chad Vale progressed to the final by a procedure known as board count where board 1 has a value of 6 points, board 2 5 points and so on. The winner is the side with most points. They came up against Perry Beeches again but lost this time 4.5-1.5. A very good start in their first season.

The next two seasons saw Chad Vale qualify for the semi-finals but lose each time. As the club was now up to 20 children Mr. Yeomans realised he needed some help and asked Mr Fox to come to the club and help with coaching the team. Mr Fox runs a very successful junior chess club in Birmingham called Checkmate.

This was a significant step as for the next two seasons Chad Vale won every match they played in the Birmingham Championship and won the trophy both years.

Chess Team Win Awards in National Schools Semi-Finals (May 2004)

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