There were four events contributing to the YJCA’s 9th Grand Prix: at Leeds, Hull, Sheffield and York. The Grand Prix was won again by Aditya Tangirala, though by a reduced margin as compared with last season. 2nd was Jael de Sousa Muachikape, and 3rd was Rumethma Tennakoon. Rumethma was in the U-11 category whereas the others at the top were U-18, so third place is a promising performance. Best girl this year was Ananya Ganjam.

Full Grand Prix results can be viewed at www.yorkshirejuniorchess.org.

In the Delancey UK Schools’ Chess Challenge, the North and West Yorkshire Gigafinal held in York attracted 116 participants while the South Yorkshire Gigafinal attracted 40 entries, and at least 8 have progressed to the Terafinals on 15th & 16th September 2018, while at least 7 have progressed to the Northern Challengers event on 22nd September 2018.

White Rose Junior Chess Academy (WRJCA)

Events which were held are as follows:

1 York Chess Day at Archbishop Junior School, Bishopthorpe. Lord Mayor of York opened the event. IM Andrew Ledger, and Lateefah Messam-Sparks, a full-time chess coach from London at Heathcote Primary School, were the main coaches on the day. It was an excellent day with training and competition. Good attendance from all over Yorkshire.

2 Problem Solving Day at Ackworth School, led by Brian Stephenson from the British Chess Problem Society. Also held some tuition and a Swiss Competition under direction of Noel Stewart and Peter Cloudsdale. Smaller attendance but certainly an interesting day.

3 Yorkshire Junior Rapidplay held at Wigginton Primary Schoool, York. Opened by Rachel Maskell MP of York - a keen chess player. 3 sections were run on a Swiss System. All players received a certificate. It was an excellent day attended by 60 children from various parts of the county. Helpers were Peter Cloudsdale, Noel Stewart, Dan Staples, Phill Beckett and others.

4 We have assisted at the 4 North Yorkshire Chess Association Grand Prix events run by John Hipshon: in Leeds, York, Hull and Sheffield.

5 Megafinals held in Sheffield and York, part of Delancey Chess Challenge: Phill ran the Sheffield one and we helped at York with good attendance of 120 children.

6 Noel Stewart and Peter Clodsdale went to Grantham in March 2018 for a 6-board county event, and Yorkshire finished runners up to Norfolk in the ECF Under-18 Championship.

7 We assisted Andrew Zigmond who ran his Yorkshire Junior League for first time with great success. He had 3 rounds, on separate events held at Ackworth School, York and Harrogate.

Future planned events;-

Girls Chess Day in York.

Yorkshire Chess Day at Holmfirth.

Yorkshire Rapidplay in York.

Girls Under-11 EPSCA team in Birmingham, 23^rd March 2019.

Plans to hold in York ECF Under-18 team event on 24^th March 2019 being looked at.

Accounts audited by Chris Wright from Otley show a current credit balance of £607.04

We have no outstanding bills to pay.

Dated …………….8^th June 2018

Peter Cloudsdale, Secretary White Rose Junior Chess Academy.

Tel: 01904-624958. Email: cloudsdale_c@hotmail.co.uk