London Chess Classic Schools Events

The XTX Markets London Chess Classic Schools’ Festival brought over 1,000 children from across the country to Arsenal FC’s iconic Emirates Stadium for a unique celebration of chess. Part of the Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) initiative, the event offered students a full day of engaging chess activities aimed at inspiring a lifelong love for the game.

The schools events are always a highlight of the Classic, and this year was no exception with the children’s enthusiasm making every day of the festival a joyous occasion. Each day of the festival, over 200 children from schools from across the UK, from Liverpool to London, participated in a vibrant chess program. Activities included expert lessons from CSC tutors and simultaneous games against masters such as GM Chris Ward and IM Lawrence Trent. The event also included time for photographs by the pitch, allowing students to capture memories at one of England’s most famous sporting venues.

The day ended with an inter-school tournament, giving the students the chance to compete against others from across the country. Over five rounds the children could compete for their school, with the school team with the best average overall winning the trophy and individual prizes also awarded. It was a perfect blend of the serious and the fun and you could feel both the concentration and excitement in the room.

The initiative remains a cornerstone of the broader XTX Markets London Chess Classic and will continue to inspire new generations of chess players in the years to come.