as many games as they liked during the lunch periods and even allowed staff to play for their Houses. Nothing provided as much universal delight as a pupil beating a member of staff, as many of the latter found to their cost. Indeed, it is a very salutary lesson, and possibly in chess more than in most activities, that a junior player can easily overpower a Sixth Former. On the first Sunday of each month, we host an online tournament open to all Essex and Suffolk junior players. These popular events have attracted close to 100 players and have the added attraction of live commentary on TwitchTV by our Director of Chess (and British Blitz Champion) Richard Pert. This term, we have joined a new online competition set up by Eton College to fill a need for more slow play chess. Our individual chess success is led by England International and our Chess Captain, Nina Pert (Year 9). Nina has recently added the British Under 14 Girls Championship to her long list of achievements. This term, we have enjoyed a return to over the board chess alongside our online chess.We will host a FIDE Invitational Weekend in November which will see our best players take on some of the strongest juniors in the country. There will also be plenty of other chess running alongside. Earlier in November we will have our latest coaching morning with Richard Pert before a number of our players - including some of our very talented Year 7s - head off to the British Rapidplay Championships. Chess continues to develop at Brentwood School, and online provision, initially in extremis, will have brought lasting benefits. It is a dynamic, popular and social activity rather than a niche pursuit. The richness and variety of our programme has provided a model to follow for other schools around the country. By Robin Slade (Brentwood School Chess Coach) 56
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