Junior and senior pupils at Robert Gordon’s College are celebrating a fantastic achievement after Gabriel (P7), Yadhev (P6), Krishanthan (P4), Ishaan (P7) were crowned winners of the North East Primary Schools Chess Competition, while Mihir (S4), Ani (S3), Anjishnu (S5), and Sunjae (S4) successfully defended their senior school title. This success is a wonderful accomplishment for the pupils and a proud moment for the wider school community.

The pupils showed impressive strategic thinking and focus throughout the tournament, performing exceptionally well at the regional competition, which took place at Hazlehead Primary School on Saturday 21 March. They were accompanied by their junior school club leader, Mrs Proctor, and senior club leader, Mr Fish. Their success reflects both their individual talent and their dedication to chess as a team. Staff praised their commitment and the way they supported one another, representing the school with pride at every stage.

Reflecting on the primary schools competition, Ishaan shared: “The most challenging moment during the tournament was in round 5, knowing that if we lost even one game, we would come second instead of first. I think we pulled together as a team, showing support for one another, which gave us the motivation to keep playing.

“It felt very different to compete with other schools, as you don’t realise that, no matter how skilled you are, there is going to be someone better than you. My brother and I were practising with each other in preparation for the tournament, and I also played lots of games with other members of both teams.

“This competition means a lot to me, as it is my first big win for the College and my first ever first place finish. Our team is immensely proud and wants to do something like this again in the future.”

Senior School Chess Club Leader, Mr Fish, commented: “The RGC Senior School Chess Team has successfully defended their title in the North East Secondary Chess Association schools competition. They were undefeated and RGC have now won the President’s Shield in four out of the last four occasions.”

Chess is a valued part of co-curricular life at Robert Gordon’s College, helping to develop key skills such as problem-solving, resilience, and critical thinking. The competition provided an exciting opportunity for pupils to challenge themselves and apply these skills in a competitive setting.