Year 6 Branson, Future Grand Master!

How old were you when you first started playing chess?

I can’t remember but I can remember my Dad teaching me when I was very young. Apparently, it took him a whole year to teach me how the Knight moved. He’s still good but I’m teaching him chess moves now and beat him a lot!

When was your first Chess tournament?

I started playing in Chess tournaments from about 8 years old and always wanted to play in the Mega Final. For the past two years I have won enough points to play in the Giga Finals so I’ve realised my goal. Now I’m working towards an Ultimo and then Nationals! One day it would be pretty cool to be a Grand Master!

What are Mega Finals and Giga Finals?

It is the main chess competition in England for schools.

The Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge comprises four events each of which is a six-round Swiss Tournament where achieving a specified score (qualification standard) allows one to progress to the next Event. The top performing boy and girl in each age category gain an individual title and trophy.

The four stages are:
1. Individual school, junior chess club or “last chance Saloon”.
2. County level – The Mega Finals and award of Supremo and Suprema titles.
3. Two regional finals (North and South) – The Giga Finals and award of Ultimo and Ultima titles
4. National – The Terra Final and Strat title. Three Challenger tournaments (the Plate competition)

Who is your Chess hero?

Magnus Carlsen was a grandmaster at thirteen and is the current world champion now so that’s a cool person to look up to.

How did you become so good and how do you get better and better?

I practise by playing online and have a membership to a Chess programme which my parents pay for and this very helpful.

I’ve just won the Mega Finals and was awarded the Supremo Cup which is fantastic and something I really wanted to achieve.