Undisputed School Champion and last year’s U9 County Champion, Prep 4, Celeste Woodall led the team, storming to four straight wins and an honourable loss to the West of England Champion. She finished 3rd overall and received the top Girl’s prize in the competition.
Celeste’s team mates also did exceptionally well in the Under 9 category. Prep 4 India Stringer did well in her first event with three wins, Prep 3 Maddie Chenoweth scored two and Prep 4 Senna O’Neill won a game. This was all three girls’ first competition outside of the school.
Truro High’s youngest player’s first championship was a great success. Prep 2 Chloe Frankland, was a runner up in the new Under 7 Championship in which she placed as top female player winning, among other things, an interesting chess book. As a result of that competition, the girls have all qualified for the Regional final in May.
The girls’ chess teacher, international competitor, Jeremy Menadue said: “Our players have really risen to the challenge that this game presents. Chess is considered to have an extremely positive impact on primary school children; it is a fantastic sport which permits players the opportunity to explore their ideas in a logical manner with the freedom to evaluate their work and learn from their mistakes.”
Celeste will be taking part in the Truro Festival Chess display at Waterstones, Truro on Saturday 28th March where she will take on all-comers from ages 8-60+ with other Cornwall Champions.
Celeste said: “I’m looking forward to showing players twice my age what I can do. Chess is all about exercising my brain in a fun way so age really doesn’t matter.”
The offering of Chess at Truro High is ever growing. All five players currently attend both the Prep School Chess Club and the new School Chess Group which is open to players of all ages providing the opportunity to hone their skills in one of the world’s most played games.
