Middlefield Primary School Chess Team has came through two qualifying heats to win the North east heat of the Scottish Junior Chess Primary Teams Championship and now meet three other Scottish qualifiers in an all-play-all final in Dunkeld in April.

In the first round heats in December, 14 N.E. teams took part. This proved to be the closest local heat for many years, when the four highest scoring teams were separated by a single point.

These four – Middlefield, Robert Gordon’s, Quarryhill, and Newmachar, met on Saturday at Summerhill Education Centre to decide which team would represent the N.E.

Quarryhill, the pre-tournament favourites, suffered a blow just before play began when their in-form captain, who had been ill during the week, suffered a relapse and was unable to take part.

However, Middlefield were worthy heat winners and with good wins against Newmachar and Quarryhill, the draw secured against Robert Gordon’s was enough to guarantee first place.

This is the best ever performance by Middlefield Primary School Chess Club, which has been benefiting from Aberdeen City Council’s Chess in Schools Project. The players take part in a once-a-week after school club, and hone their skills at evening coaching sessions run by Aberdeen Chess Academy.

Tullos Primary School Chess Team had previously qualified for the SJC P5 and under teams final, also to be held in Dunkeld in April, while St Machar Academy and Northfield Academy are among the Secondary Schools Finalists.

Middlefield Primary School Chess Team