Take part in the largest UK junior chess competition
For players aged 5 – 18. All abilities welcome.
The UK Chess Challenge, proudly sponsored by Delancey, first took place in 1996 and has since grown into one of the largest junior chess tournaments in the world. The beauty of the event is that it welcomes all-comers from beginners to national champions and schools from all corners of the United Kingdom take part. There is nothing quite like this in the world of chess.
The competition is hugely popular with school teachers as everyone in the school can take part, win prizes and have fun with their friends. Players can then go through to the area Megafinal and, skills permitting, to the Gigafinals and Terafinal.
Over 1 million children have taken part since 1996! The list of previous winners includes several grandmasters and international players.
Megafinals (March – June)
Play against players from other schools in the same region face to face OR compete online for a chance to play in the Gigafinals
In 2025 there are two ways to take part in a Megafinal.
1) Play a ‘face to face’ competition hosted by one of our regional organisers. Children will get the opportunity to play against opposition from other schools and get first hand experience of the real chess tournament experience.
2) Play online. In June we will be running two online Megafinals with further Gigafinal qualifying spots. This is a more convenient option and ideal for those wanting to play from the comfort of their own home.
Please note players can play in as many Megafinals as they like and both in person and online.
How to Take Part
Please choose from two options: playing ‘in person’ or playing online
In Person
Choice of in-person regional competitions up and down the UK. Prices £20 – £36
Online
2 x Megafinals in June (plus additional events such as blitz, variants and Team Battle Royale’s). Prices £19 – £35
In Person Events
Date: Saturday 29th March
Venue: Broughton High School, 9 East Fettes Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 1EG
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.00 for a 9.45 start. Approximate finish time 17.30
Contact: Lothian Junior Chess, ljc.megafinal@gmail.com
Date: Friday 11th April
Venue: Harrow High School, Gayton Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2JG
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Chess & Bridge and Harrow Chess Club (nevil@chess.co.uk)
Date: Saturday 19th April
Venue: Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church, 47 Merry Street, Motherwell, ML1 1JJ
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born before 01/09/2014
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Harry Marron, harrymarron48@gmail.com
Date: Sunday 20th April
Venue: Elm Court Youth and Community Centre, Potters Bar, EN6 3BP
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Ravi Kumar, chesscheck@gmail.com
Date: Saturday 26th April
Venue: Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church, 47 Merry Street, Motherwell, ML1 1JJ
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2014
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Harry Marron, harrymarron48@gmail.com
Date: Sunday 4th May
Venue: Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm School, Yarm, TS15 9EJ
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 16.00
Contact: Sean Marsh, chesslinks@hotmail.com
Date: Saturday 10th May
Venue: Methodist College, 1 Malone Rd, Belfast, BT9 6BY
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Mark Newman, mark.chris.newman@googlemail.com
Date: Sunday 11th May
Venue: Elm Court Youth and Community Centre, Potters Bar, EN6 3BP
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Ravi Kumar, chesscheck@gmail.com
Date: Sunday 11th May
Venue: Hereford Cathedral School, The Zimmerman Building, Hereford, HR1 2LT
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Richard Croot, hereford4242@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday 24th May
Venue: Nottingham High School, Forest Road East, Nottingham, NG1 4HH
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.15 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Edward Jones, ed47jones@icloud.com
Date: Saturday 24th May
Venue: Cheadle Hulme School, Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 6EF
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2014
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Sarah Longson, admin@ukchess.co.uk
Date: Sunday 25th May
Venue: Cheadle Hulme School, Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 6EF
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Sarah Longson, admin@ukchess.co.uk
Date: Saturday 7th June
Venue: Bristol Grammar School, University Rd, Bristol, BS81SR
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.40 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.15
Contact: John Stubbs, jcdstubbs@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Saturday 7th June
Venue: Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church, 47 Merry Street, Motherwell, ML1 1JJ
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Harry Marron, harrymarron48@gmail.com
Date: Sunday 8th June
Venue: The Perse Upper School, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8QF
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Jamie Mitchell, jmitchell@stfaiths.co.uk
Date: Sunday 8th June
Venue: Bootham School, 51 Bootham, York, YO30 7BU
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Organiser Details: John Hipshon, yjca1@outlook.com
Date: Saturday 14th June
Venue: Royal Grammar School Newcastle, Eskdale Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4DX
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: admin@ukchess.co.uk
Date: Saturday 21st June
Venue: Charlton School, Apley Avenue, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 3FA
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Christopher Lewis, christopher.d.lewis44@gmail.com
Date: Sunday 22nd June
Venue: Winchester College, College Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9NF
Eligibility: Open to all juniors born after 31/08/2006
Schedule: Arrival from 9.30 for a 10.00 start. Approximate finish time 17.00
Contact: Maha Chandar, kidschess@hotmail.com
Coming Soon
- 3rd North London (June)
- Aberdeen
- Birmingham
- Buckinghamshire
- Derbyshire (1st June)
- East Kent
- Essex
- Kent
- London
- Manchester (Bolton)
- Oxford
- Somerset
- Surrey
- Sussex
- Wales
- Worcestershire
Online Option
Our online events allow players to take part and qualify for the latter stages from the comfort of their own home and without the same sort of time commitment required from in-person events. As well as the Megafinals we are running the ever-popular blitz and variant championships (optional extras with cash prizes) and warm up events (so players can get used to playing online).
There are two Online Megafinal weekends:
Weekend 1 – Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June
U8s – Saturday 14th June (10am)
U10s – Saturday 14th June (2pm)
U12s – Sunday 15th June (10am)
U14s – Sunday 15th June (2pm)
U18s – Sunday 15th June (2pm)
Weekend 2 – Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June
U8s – Sunday 29th June (2pm)
U10s – Sunday 29th June (10am)
U12s – Saturday 28th June (2pm)
U14s – Saturday 28th June (10am)
U18s – Saturday 28th June (10am)
Online Value Pass
1 x Megafinal- 1 x Megafinal
- Warmup competition
Online Season Ticket
All inclusive- 2 x Megafinals (extra chance)
- Warmup competition
- Blitz Championship
- Variant Championship
- Battle Royales (Team Events)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who can take part?
A: Any individual aged 18 or younger who is based in the UK can take part. Any UK based school or junior chess club can take part.
Q: Do I need to qualify for each stage?
A: Entry to the Megafinals is open to all players. Players must then qualify for each subsequent stage by reaching the qualifying score.
Q: What is the qualifying score for the gigafinals?
A: 3.5 points. In addition, the top three boys and top three girls in each section automatically qualify. There may be additional age related qualification places granted.
Q: When does it take place?
A: The competition is in four stages:
January – April > Preliminary School’s Stage
April – June > Megafinals
June – July > Gigafinals
September > Challengers
October > Terafinal
Q: Is the competition in person or online?
A: It is a ‘hybrid’ of online and in-person events. The Challengers and Terafinal are in-person only.
Q: Can I play in multiple Megafinals?
A: Yes players can play in as many Megafinals as they like – in person, online or both. With the availability of tournaments still below its pre-pandemic level we believe in giving juniors as much opportunity to play chess as possible.
Q: Why are the competition stages named after binary prefixes?
A: No one quite remembers – but the competitors seem to like it so the names stuck around!
Q: Can I get a refund if I have to later cancel my attendance?
A: We offer a 50% refund on in-person event cancellations where we are notified at least 14 days before the day of the event. There are no refunds for online tickets (ie value passes and season tickets). In light of the above please make sure you can attend before booking!
Q: Can I transfer my booking to another event?
A: As events are run by different organisers we cannot transfer bookings between events. You would have to cancel the original booking and purchase a new ticket for the correct event.
Q: There are no spaces left at events near me, what can I do?
A: An online value pass or season ticket will give you a chance of competing in a Megafinal and qualifying for an in-person Gigafinal.