These tournaments are massively popular because everyone in the school can take part and everyone wins prizes. The best players can then go through to the area MEGAFINAL and, skills permitting, to the NATIONAL GIGAFINAL and TERAFINAL! Last year's event in attracted over 66 thousand children from nearly 2000 schools and clubs. The 9th UK Chess Challenge will run in 2004. The organisers hope for even greater numbers this year! The results of the 2003 local regional final, the Mercia Megafinal (Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire) are available here.

In the first stage, there is no travelling and players from the same club or school compete for places in their local Megafinal. The first stage tournament is played once a week in school or junior chess club. This can be during a lunch break, after-school or a Saturday morning session. Seven rounds are played, starting in the spring term, during players win badges, spots, mascots and other prizes. Rules of the tournament have been kept simple, so that a teacher or parent with only a basic knowledge of chess should be able to run it! All ages can take part and the qualifiers for the Megafinals are the top scorers in the tournament, plus leading girls and boys in 12 separate age groups from under 7 up to under 18. Full rules of the competition and an on-line registration form ara available at: http://www.ukchesschallenge.com/entry_form_and_rules.shtml

The entry fee for a school or junior chess club is £35, which provides enough prizes for up to 30 players. Extra players can be enrolled at a cost of £15 for each additional 15 players. Along with the pack of badges, gold spots and mascots etc., there are full rules of the tournament and instructions for running it, plus tournament cards for each player and tournament score chart for the school notice board. Organisers find these tournaments stimulate interest in chess in their club or school. To enrol, the national organisers say you should just fill in the form at the link above and send to Mike Basman, 7 Billockby Close, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2ED (telephone, 0208 397 1826), enclosing a cheque. The national organisers say schools and clubs will receive tournament pack of prizes etc., so that you will be able to run your event straight away. Closing date for entries: 12th December, 2003 (later entries pay an extra £5)

If you live in Herefordshire, Shropshire, or Worcestershire and are entering players from your school or club, please contact me using the feedback form. Thanks - Ray Collett