The second heat of the Newark Schools’ Chess Competition held at Donald Bailey School, with Barnby Road Academy, John Blow Collingham, Farndon St Peter’s, Highfields, Holy Trinity, and Sutton on Trent taking part

Pupils made their move in a bid to become the next young chess champions.

The Newark Schools’ Chess Competition has been running since 2008, sponsored by Tallents Solicitors, and after the competition restarted after a three year break caused by the pandemic, Sutton on Trent Primary School have been competition winners for two years in a row.

After the first round was held at Barnby Road Academy in November last year, the second heat took place on Tuesday March 11 at Donald Bailey School, with Barnby Road Academy, John Blow Collingham, Farndon St Peter’s, Highfields, Holy Trinity, and Sutton-on-Trent primary schools all also taking part.

The 13 teams each comprised four players and each child played three games in the afternoon against different teams in a jamboree format.

After taking top spot in the first round, Sutton-on-Trent have a strong lead with their A team taking first place once again with 11 points from their 12 games, and Highfields A team came in second place with nine points.

Sutton-on-Trent’s B team came in closely behind in third place with eight points.

After the first two rounds, Sutton-on-Trent’s A team is in the lead with 21.5 points, with their B team in second with 18, and Highfields A team are in third with 15.5.

Ten children won all three games — a player each from Barnby Road, Donald Bailey, and Highfields, two from Farndon, and five from Sutton-on-Trent — who were presented with medals by Sarah Allen from Tallents Solicitors.

The final competition will be held on Tuesday May 20 at Holy Trinity School, when the points scored in that round to be added to the current cumulative totals to produce winners and second and third places.