Checkmate: Next Rounds of the World School Team Championship are underway.
The stakes are rising as players head into Rounds 3 and 4. The pressure is building up – and every move could change the course of the championship.
In the heart of Washington, D.C., the World School Team Championship has unfolded with all its grandeur and excitement. After the initial two rounds, which were charged with intensity and a spirit of healthy competition, the tournament reached its next phase. Two rounds in, and all the young participants have already demonstrated impressive effort, thoughtful play, and determination.
After rounds 3 and 4, the tournament favourite, the National School of Physics and Mathematics, has delivered a commanding performance so far, with each board maintaining a perfect score and no points dropped. Not far behind, India’s Velammal MHS School is also showcasing remarkable consistency, having conceded just a point and a half (three draws) onboards across all rounds. Their strategy of placing lower-rated players on the top boards continues to spark intrigue.
Among today’s standout performances was Sri Lanka’s Royal College, Colombo. The team made waves in the third round by stunning the 8th-seeded English side, Hampton School, with a resounding 4-0 victory. In the fourth round, they faced the third seed, University High School, and dominated the match 3:1 continuing their impressive journey on this global stage.
The moment of the day comes from the match between Velammal MHS School and US The Harker School on board 2 where IM Arun Daakshin delivered a crushing final move in this position, which was met with an immediate resignation by Black.
In the heart of Washington, D.C., the World School Team Championship has unfolded with all its grandeur and excitement. After the initial two rounds, which were charged with intensity and a spirit of healthy competition, the tournament reached its next phase. Two rounds in, and all the young participants have already demonstrated impressive effort, thoughtful play, and determination.
After rounds 3 and 4, the tournament favourite, the National School of Physics and Mathematics, has delivered a commanding performance so far, with each board maintaining a perfect score and no points dropped. Not far behind, India’s Velammal MHS School is also showcasing remarkable consistency, having conceded just a point and a half (three draws) onboards across all rounds. Their strategy of placing lower-rated players on the top boards continues to spark intrigue.
Among today’s standout performances was Sri Lanka’s Royal College, Colombo. The team made waves in the third round by stunning the 8th-seeded English side, Hampton School, with a resounding 4-0 victory. In the fourth round, they faced the third seed, University High School, and dominated the match 3:1 continuing their impressive journey on this global stage.
The moment of the day comes from the match between Velammal MHS School and US The Harker School on board 2 where IM Arun Daakshin delivered a crushing final move in this position, which was met with an immediate resignation by Black.
The move is 24.Qxf6!! The squares around the black king are completely dominated by White. If 24…Kxf6 25.Be5# game over.
Looking ahead, tomorrow’s pairings promise exciting matchups as the Swiss system begins pitting the top teams against one another. With the leaderboard tightening, the battle for the championship title is about to enter a thrilling phase.
The boards have become battlefields where focus, endurance, and teamwork are constantly in the spotlight. Each play demonstrates the players' unwavering dedication to their teams, with every strategic decision having the potential to determine the tournament's final outcome.
As the championship progresses, the stakes only grow higher. The remaining two days promise an even greater feeling of anticipation. Teams are busy analyzing their previous games, refining strategies, and entering the upcoming rounds with recharged energy and determination. The next few rounds will be a true test of both individual brilliance and collective strength, where every moment counts, and every move can make history.
The competition is far from over, and the quest for victory is about to intensify!
Looking ahead, tomorrow’s pairings promise exciting matchups as the Swiss system begins pitting the top teams against one another. With the leaderboard tightening, the battle for the championship title is about to enter a thrilling phase.
The boards have become battlefields where focus, endurance, and teamwork are constantly in the spotlight. Each play demonstrates the players' unwavering dedication to their teams, with every strategic decision having the potential to determine the tournament's final outcome.
As the championship progresses, the stakes only grow higher. The remaining two days promise an even greater feeling of anticipation. Teams are busy analyzing their previous games, refining strategies, and entering the upcoming rounds with recharged energy and determination. The next few rounds will be a true test of both individual brilliance and collective strength, where every moment counts, and every move can make history.
The competition is far from over, and the quest for victory is about to intensify!
