World’s largest tournament

Very clever kids’ stuff
By Malcolm Pein
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 30/06/2007

The world’s largest chess tournament, The British Land UK Chess Challenge, is now approaching its final stages, with over two thousand children vying for glory and thousands of pounds in prize money.

The tournament began in the spring with over 70,000 children competing in 2,300 schools throughout the UK. From these emerged 8,000 Megafinalists who took part in 37 area championships for the title of Supremo and the chance to qualify for the third stage, the Gigafinals in July.

There will be North and South Gigafinals to be staged at Wellington College, Berkshire on 7th and 8th July and in Manchester University over the weekend of 14th and 15th July. Each event hosts about 1,000 players and at stake will be the Ultimo and Ultima titles at twelve different age levels from 5 up to 18, with a £100 prize for each winner.

These champions then go on to the Terafinal on 18th and 19th August, along with the runners up from the Gigafinal, who will play in two Challengers sections. The Terafinal, to be held at North Leamington Arts and Technology College, has a £2,000 prize for the winner who receives the title of The Strat. In addition there is £1,000 for the top girl, £1,000 for the top under 11 player and £300 for the top under 9 player, as well as many other prizes for high scorers.

Here is the full article.