Our chess programme gives pupils from member schools the opportunity to compete against players from across the UK and overseas.
Schools can take part in our online competitions, which include individual and team events, as well as our in-person Over-the-Board Chess competition. Explore each format below to find the right opportunity for your pupils.
Online Chess competition
Our Online Chess competition is delivered through Lichess and includes opportunities for pupils to compete individually and as part of a school team.
Age categories
- Under 9
- Under 13
Competition timeline
|
Date of tournament |
Date of training tournament | |
| Bonus team qualifier | Thursday 19 November | Thursday 12 November |
| Team qualifier and individual championship |
Thursday 4 March |
Thursday 25 February |
| Team final | Thursday 18 March | N/A |
Bookings open on Wednesday 23 September at 08.00 and close on Friday 16 October.
Please read the competition information and rules before booking.
Over the Board Chess competition
Our Over-the-Board Chess competition gives pupils the opportunity to compete face to face in individual and team events.
The competition follows English Chess Federation rules and consists of six rounds. Individual awards are available within the relevant age groups, alongside team results calculated using each school’s leading players.
Competition information
- Age groups: U9 and U13
- Format: Six rounds of 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move
- Individual competitions: U9 and U13
- Team competitions: Based on the combined scores of each school’s leading players
- Entry: Individual pupil entry through a member school
Details of the 2027 competition, including the date, venue, entry fee and booking arrangements, will be published during the autumn term.