Last weekend, Bishop Fitzgerald Middle School hosted the Gibraltar Megafinal Chess Tournament. The local tournament is organised as part of the Delancy UK Schools Chess Challenge, the biggest chess tournament in the world with over 68,000 junior players from over the UK competing every year.

The Gibraltar Megafinal was organised by the Gibraltar Chess Association and the Calpe Chess Club and saw some 56 youngsters from across our schools participating in the competition: the youngest was four years old! The Minister for Education Gilbert Licudi, QC visited the players at different times during the day where he took the opportunity to witness the quiet determination, discipline and commitment of the young chess players.

The winners will be invited to participate in the UK semifinals. The Minister presented the trophies to the winners and other qualifiers of the different categories. He expressed his delight at the way chess has developed as an extra-curricular activity in our schools as well as the interest generated by the game amongst children, parents and teachers. He also thanked the organisers for their hard work and dedication.