King’s pupils make their mark at regional chess championships
Three pupils from King’s have achieved outstanding success at the Cheshire and North Wales Chess Championships, putting girls’ chess firmly in the spotlight and showcasing the high calibre of play across the whole school.
Students from King’s competed in the championships this month, with particularly impressive results in the Under 18s Girls category. In a remarkable clean sweep, King’s players claimed first, second and third place in the competition.
Leading the field was Maryam Atif, who secured first place and was crowned Cheshire and North Wales Under 18s Girls Champion following a series of strong and strategic performances. Close behind was Alexandra Taylor, who finished second, while Evelyn Hodkinson completed the podium with a third-place finish.
Andrew Ireland, Chess Coach at King's applauded the players' success. “The results highlight not just individual talent, but also the strength of both talent and participation across the whole school. We run a number of chess clubs, where we encourage pupils who want to play for enjoyment just as much as those who want to play competitively. The school Chess Squad itself is populated with pupils with the focus, dedication, and sportsmanship required to play at the highest level. Where both resilience and advanced technical skills are essential.”
The achievement is being celebrated as a milestone for girls’ chess at King’s, helping to raise the profile of female players in what has traditionally been a male-dominated game. It also reflects the growing enthusiasm for chess among pupils of all ages at the school.
With such strong performances at regional level, King’s continues to build a reputation for excellence in chess regionally and national, and the future looks bright for the next generation of players following in Maryam, Alexandra and Evelyn’s footsteps.
