All primary schools in Shropshire are invited to participate in the Shropshire Primary Schools Chess Championship. Across October-April we will host 4 zonals. The winning team from each zonal will then be invited to the grand final taking place in May or June.
Each school team consists of 4 players and schools may enter more than 1 team. All players must be born on or after 31st August 2014 (yr 6 and below).
Space considerations mean we may limit the numbers of teams a school can enter and the number of rounds will depend on the number of entries. Teams may enter more than one zonal. There is no entry fee.
South Shropshire Zonal
Venue: St Lawrence CE Primary School
Date: Monday 24th November 2025
Start/Finish: 1.15pm-4.15pm
Zonal Qualifier – St Laurence CE Primary School
https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1297224.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0
North Shropshire Zonal
Venue: Prees CE Primary School
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Start/Finish: 11am-2.30pm
Zonal Qualifier – St Mary’s (A) Primary School
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1298802.aspx?lan=1&art=0&SNode=S0
West Shropshire Zonal
Venue: St George’s Junior School
Date: Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Start/Finish: 1.15pm-4.15pm
Entries to date:
St George’s Junior School – 2 Teams
St Mary’s Primary School – 2 Teams
Greenfields Primary School – 2 Teams
Zonal Qualifier – St Mary’s (B) Primary School
https://chess-results.com/tnr1298807.aspx?lan=1&art=0
Telford Zonal
Venue: Windmill Primary School
Date: Monday 23rd March 2026 (date changed)
Start/Finish: 11am-2.30pm
Entries to date:
Captain Webb Primary School – 3 teams
St Mary’s Primary School – 2 Teams
Much Wenlock Primary School – 2 Teams
Windmill Primary School – 1 Team
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1298810.aspx?lan=1&art=0&SNode=S0
Grand Final
Venue: TBA
Date: TBA
Start/Finish: TBA
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1298811.aspx?lan=1&art=0&SNode=S0
Zonal Prizes
1st Gold Medals
2nd Silver Medals
3rd Bronze Medals
All participants will receive a certificate
The winning school in the grand final will receive The Alan Shaw Trophy to keep for 1 year.
Full Rules
1. Each team will play every other team once or twice in the zonal. This may vary at the organizers discretion to ensure the event neither finishes too early or too late.
2. Each team of 4 should play in strength order with the strongest player as judged by the team captain playing on board 1.
3. For each game in the match, a player who wins will score 1 gamepoint, a player who draws will score ½ a gamepoint, and a player who loses will score 0 gamepoints. The team that scores the most gamepoints will win the match. A team winning a match scores 1 matchpoint, a team drawing a match scores ½ a matchpoint, and a team losing a match scores 0 matchpoints.
4. The final ranking of the tournament is determined by:
a. Matchpoints
b. Gamepoints
c. Matchpoints in the match(es) between the tied teams
d. Gamepoints in the match(es) between the tied teams
e. If exactly two teams remain tied, board count in the match between the tied teams; add up the number of the games that each team wins; the team whose total is lower is ranked higher
f. If exactly two teams remain tied, board elimination in the match between the tied teams; remove the board 4 result, and the team with the most gamepoints remaining shall be ranked higher
g. If exactly two teams remain tied, repeat f. with board 3, and then if necessary board 2, until the gamepoint totals first become unequal.
h. Drawing of lots.
5. All games will be played with chess clocks. The time control will be dependant on the number of rounds.
6. The arbiter will strictly enforce the rules of touch move and touch take. That means if a child touches a piece they must move that piece. If they touch an opponents piece they must take if able. This will be explained clearly before the tournament.
7. It is required that every team will have a responsible adult who will be present throughout the event.
Grand Final Rules
8. All of the above rules will apply to the grand final.
9. The winning team from each zonal will qualify for the grand final. In the event a schoo enters and wins more than 1 zonal the runner up will be invited in their place. If a school wins a zonal and enters another zonal, if a team from that school features any of the players who previously qualified for the final the whole team becomes ineligible for qualification. In the event a team is unable to make the grand final, their spot will be offered to the runner up in their zonal. If no team is available to enter from that zonal, the spot will be allocated at the organisers discretion such that there are 4 teams in the final.
10. Chess clocks will be used in the grand final on all boards and all games will be submitted to the English Chess Federation for rating. The time limit will be 10 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. The tournament arbiter will demonstrate how to use these if your children are not familiar with them.
11. Schools may change their team from the team who represented them in the zonal
Any questions can be sent to the tournament organiser:
Christopher Lewis
Shropshire Head of Junior Chess
[email protected]
07508 487092 or 01630 801860
See results from previous competitions
We are very grateful to The Chess Trust for sponsoring this event.
