QE's chess team has qualified for the national stage of the English Chess Federation Schools' Championship by reaching the competition's zonal final.
The team had to overcome stiff competition from a high-quality field of ten schools, reaching the final with victories over Dame Alice Owen’s School and Enfield Grammar School and a semi-final away win at Woodbridge School, Suffolk.
“It is a fantastic achievement for us to reach the national stages of this prestigious competition,” said teacher Geoff Roberts who leads chess at the School. “It is particularly pleasing to succeed with a 5-1 win against Woodbridge School, a strong chess-playing school.
“Coming through such a tough zone means the team is well equipped to put in a strong performance in the national stages. Well done to all the boys involved and particularly to Madhi Elango for leading the team to such an achievement.”
The zonal final against Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School will take place later this month.
This year’s squad has comprised: Captain Madhi Elango (Year 13); Rushil Sajip (Year 13); Joseph Levene (Year 12); Jake Breindel (Year 11); Ananth Balaji (Year 10); Rishul Karia (Year 9); George Ivanov (Year 7) and Federico Rocco (Year 7).