Back in mid December, Oundle School pupil, Sam Herring (13) won the U14 minor tournament at the London Junior Chess Championships, having been originally seeded 6th in the event. His score of 5/6 was excellent given the standard of competition.
Sam also went on to win the Northamptonshire Christmas Congress U18 section on 30 December, a tournament which is part of the Northamptonshire Junior Grand Prix. He has now won the first two of four events to be held.
Most recently, on 14 January Sam jointly won the best junior prize at the John Robinson rapid-play event held for both adult and junior chess players in Northamptonshire.
Oundle’s Chess coach, Geoff Crook commented, “Sam continues to excel not only in tournaments, but also playing in the Oundle School chess team. His hard work and study of the game is really bearing fruit and he is turning into a very fine player.”
Sam started playing chess in Year Six at Laxton Junior School where there is a flourishing programme of chess clubs led by teacher Graham Trotter, who encourages pupils to participate in competitions at regional and national levels. Geoff, who teaches chess at both Laxton Junior School and Oundle School added, “Sam’s success has been helped by the joint chess initiative that has been set up between both schools and we hope for more chess champions to follow in Sam’s footsteps.”
Sam, who is now looking forward to the South of England Championships at the end of January and the Junior County Championships in early February, commented, “I like the strategy involved in playing chess and being able to play people of different ages. I started playing at Laxton Junior School and got to go to a chess tournament at Pontins as part of the School’s team. My Great Grandmother, Grandad and Dad all played chess and I hope to be as good as them one day.”

Related posts: