Westminster Schools Tournament

The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg kindly hosted a tournament for Westminster schools in his magnificent offices overlooking Buckingham Palace. The event was open to both primary and secondary schools, and 45 children from six different schools took part. The competitors each played five games of chess, with medals being awarded for the highest individual scores and trophies to the winning scores.

The competition was extremely tough and our tutors were very impressed with the standard of play. Going into the final round, two girls from St Marylebone School shared the lead and played out a hard-fought draw, allowing a player from Soho Parish Primary School to catch up and share the gold medal position. In the secondary school team competition, St Marylebone retained the title they won last year while Gateway Academy beat off strong opposition to secure the primary school trophy.

Our congratulations to everyone who played and made it such an enjoyable day, and our huge thanks to the Lord Mayor and his team for hosting the event. The date for next year’s tournament has already been set - Tuesday 13th October 2026. If you are a member of staff at a Westminster school and would like to enter a team, please contact Matt Piper. Plenty of time to hone those chess skills and make sure your team is fully prepared.