Closed Play Tournament

 This year QMGS hosted the "closed play" tournament for the first time. The tournament was a "Jamboree" format with 9 teams from the Birmingham Junior League taking part.

The eventual winners where King Edwards Edgbaston, with King Edwards Camp Hill a close second.

Queen Mary's managed a middle of the table finish, with most players managing to win at least one game.

Well done to Amaron Bhatti for winning all of his games!

QMGS1 1.5 KES1 4.5 QMGS2 2 KES3 4

Last Friday saw the first team and second team in action against the always formidable King Edwards Edgbaston. It was a difficult night for both teams against tough opposition, however there were definitely a few success stories. Tim Crooks won his game with a clever sacrifice leading to a pawn to queen promotion and eventual check mate with literally seconds on the clock. Dhiren Bahia managed a draw in his game; a player who is beginning to establish himself as a first team player against the best schools in the league. Finally, Fahim got back to winning ways with a victory against the highly graded King Edwards board one player.

Lightning Tournament - KES

Last Friday a team of year seven students and a senior team took part in the Lightning tournament at Kings Edwards Edgbaston.

The tournament is an exciting, rapid play fixture with most of the teams in the Birmingham Junior Chess League taking part. Although QMGS did not manage to win a team trophy a number of players did win board prizes. Well done to Ammaar Ashraf, Amanraj Grewal and Farshad Mohammadi.

QMGS v King Edwards Five Ways

Last Friday saw the first team in action against King Edwards Five Ways. It was another tough fixture for the first team, with all boards being very equally matched. In the end the it was another close loss for the first team, who eventually lost 4 games to 2. Well done to Sarvesh and Karthick for winning their games. Commiserations to Fahim Nasiri who lost his first game in the Birmingham Junior chess league for five years. (if my records can be trusted, but believe me it's been a long time!) Although disappointed Fahim was philosophical and will doubtlessly use defeat as means to improve rather than waste time with negativity and making excuses.

QMGS v Wolverhampton

After a heavy defeat to a very impressive Bishop Vessey's team the year sevens bounced back with a win against Wolverhampton Grammar. After an hour of chess consisting of two games per player QM eventually won 8 games to 4. Well done to Sulaimn Shafiq for winning both his games in his debut performance and to Piotr and Sujjan for both winning and drawing in their games.

The fourth team were also in action against Wolverhampton and eventually lost 4.5 games to 7.5 games. Well done to Vincent, Amanraj, Gabriel and Arjun who all managed to win a game.

QMGS v KES

After the national fixtures of the previous week, attention returned to the Birmingham league and another tough fixture against arguable the toughest opposition in the league King Edwards Edgbaston.

This fixture involved the first team and the first outing for the year sevens.

The year sevens eventually lost 8 games to 4, well done to Sujjan, Piotr, Shivansh and Kieran for managing to win a game against very tough opposition.

After a tough games on boards 4,5 and 6 the first team found themselves 3-0 down!

Impressive performances on boards higher boards managed to turn things around, but unfortunately qmgs couldn't quite manage a draw. Eventually losing 3.5 to 2.5. Well done to Fahim, Sarvesh and Dhiren Bahia.

Especially well done to Dhiren Bahia who is quickly becoming an established first team player in year 9! I'm sure this rapid ascension is at least in part due to his extra curricular commitments at Bloxwich chess club. Who are always looking bright young players. http://www.sjca.org.uk/bloxwichjunior.html

KES - U18 National Tournament

Last Saturday the first team played in a national final at Kings Edwards Edgbaston. Some of the best school teams in the country were present, including Nottingham High School, Hampton and RGS Guildford. It was a tough day for most of the QMGS team, however most players
managed to win or draw at least one game.

The big success story of the day had to be Fahim Nasiri's performance. Fahim has been the schools best chess player for a number of years now, though has never competed in a graded tournament before and hence entered this tournament with a grading of zero.

It, therefore, caused considerable surprise amongst the spectators when, after a very close game, he managed to beat the Nottingham High Schools board one player who had a grading of 184. He followed this breath taking performance with another impressive win over the King Edwards board one player who had a grading of 176.

Fahim finished in joint second place, amongst the other board one players. He shared this position with a player with a grading of 201. The tournament organiser has passed me the details of an "International Chess Master" who captains a team in the "four nations chess league" and told me and would be very interested to hear of Fahim's performance today.

KECH 3.5 - QMGS 2.5

After an hour and a half of gruelling chess and many closely fought battles, QMGS first team eventually lost 2.5 to 3.5 to Camp Hill’s first team. It was a very enjoyable night of chess and it was nice to see such an excellent rapport between both teams in the after match discussions. Many valuable tips exchanged I am sure. Abu-Bakr Ahmed was man of the match for QM winning his game on board 4. Playing in the fourth team must seem a distant memory now!!

Junior Chess League - Full Round Up of Results

How close was division 2?

It was a close call but ...

QMGS retain the second division title for the 3rd year running! With KES and QMGS having won 2 matches in the division and drawn against each other it came down to a points decision. Overall QMGS won 2 more matches than KES and so just retain the trophy. Well done to the first team regulars; solid and dependable as ever! But also well to those who played in the first team for the first time this year and managed to win their games, your contribution really did matter in the end!

Found these photos whilst having a 'digital tidyup!'

Chess Colours - Ben Nevett-Farman

Ben started and ended his chess playing career for QM on board 2 in the first team. To say he maintained an impeccable record would be an understatement, as he won every single game he played for the school. His high standards of play have only been matched by his sportsman like conduct and civil manner. He has represented the school exceptionally well in every way. I only regret not finding him sooner. Ben truly deserves his chess colours. (Ben - second from left in the photo above)

Closed Play Tournament

The final tournament of the season took place at King Edwards Five Ways last Friday. It is a quick play tournament in which most of the teams in the Birmingham Junior Chess League take part.
	All of the players who took part managed to win at least one game. Well done to Bilal Idris, for winning 6 out of 8 of his games.

QMGS v King Edwards Five Ways

The final league matches of the season, for QM, took place at King Edwards Five Ways last Friday. The second team eventually managed to win 8 and a half to 3 and half after some very close and competitive matches. Well done to Dhiren Bahia and Amaron Singh who won both their games in their debut performances for the second team. Also, well done to Liam Berembuam for winning his match and for being the star performer in the second team this season.

It was a tough night for the fourth team who eventually lost 9 and a half to 2 and a half. However, well done to Farshad Mohammadi and Zain Ashraf for winning a game each.

Happening this weekend ...

1) Warwickshire Open Chess Championships 2016

2) At Bloxwich chess club:

Former President Roger Edwards will play a simultaneous display against all junior chess players.

Under 14 National Tournament

For the second year running QMGS hosted a national under 14s tournament which included teams from Surrey and Oxford. After a long day of chess Magdalen College School won the tournament and King Edwards Edgbaston where runners up. Well done to Dhiren Bahia, our board one player for winning a board trophy after a tough day battling with graded players. (Including a player with a grading of 169).

Dhiren Bahia and Amaron Bhatti	Amrit Singh and Nikhil Rathod

The Lightning Tournament

Last Friday a team of year 7 and year 8 students entered the Lightning Tournament hosted by King Edwards Edgbaston. Everyone managed to win at least one game, so well done to all involved. Particularly well done to Amrit Singh and Joshwan Jagpal who managed to win board prizes. Amrit Singh won 7 out of 8 games and Joshwan Jagpal won 5 out of 8 games.

Amrit Singh and Joshwan Jagpal	Star player Amaron Bhatti	Another good night for Samual Ojerinde

QMGS v Solihull

Last Friday saw the first, third and fourth teams in action against Solihull. The first team team eventually won 10 - 2 after a good hour and a half of competitive chess. Well done to all involved. Especially to Abu-Bakr Ahmed, who has now won two first team games this season, showing a clear progression from where he started in the fourth team two years ago. As usual Ben Nevett Farman and Fahim Nasiri maintained there unbeaten runs. 

The second team also won 10 - 2, with impressive debut performances from Amanraj Grewal and Wasif Rahman. Well done also to Tim Crooks for winning his first game for the school and to Zac Elliot who also turned in an impressive performance.

The fourth team struggled and eventually lost 10 - 2 to a confident Solihull team. Although it's been a difficult season for the fourth team, these experiences will inevitably build maturity and good chess players for the future. Well done to Samual Ojerinde for winning his game.

QMGS v King Edwards Edgbaston

A close game for QMGS first team ended in a 3 all draw with King Edwards Edgbaston second team. Well done to Liam Berembaum for stepping in to play at the last minute and recording his first win for the first team. Also well done to Fahim Nasiri and Ben Nevett Farman for winning their games and extending their unbeaten runs.

The fourth team had a tough night eventually losing 9.5 to 2.5. However well done to Farshad Mohammadi and Rohan Sangha for managing to win a game.

QMGS v Windsor

Another tough match for Queen Mary's third team. A very close game against Windsor High School ended in a 6 all draw. Well done to Dhiren Bahia for winning his match again and for being unbeaten so far this season.