The Icelandic champions from Hvaleyrarskóli on their way to Helsinki

Icelandic champions at Hvaleyrarskóli

The Hvaleyrarskóli team for pupils in years 8-10 is the Icelandic champion in the primary school chess competition. The team won the title in style at the end of March. The Hvaleyrarskóli team will represent Iceland at the Nordic Primary School Championship, which will be held in Helsinki from 12th to 14th September.  The team took the lead at the start of the tournament and never relinquished it.

The Icelandic Primary School Chess Championship was held on 29-30 March. In the competition for primary schools in years 5-7, 36 teams took part. Hvaleyrarskóli's A-team was in the running at the top throughout and finished in fifth place. The B-team also performed well, finishing in the middle of the table.

Emilia Klara Tomasdottir, a second-year student, played seven games in the tournament and won them all. That is a particularly fine achievement for someone so young. For this, she received a special board prize.

Kristinn Guðlaugsson, head teacher of Hvaleyrarskóli, is proud of his young people. „Many years ago, there was a strong chess programme here which then fell by the wayside. We decided to make a bold move and increased the teaching this winter. We now teach chess in years 3 to 6,“ he says.

„Yes, proud, very proud,“ he says. The achievement has been captured. „Yes, we've put up a wall with the awards. The wonderful teacher, Ægir, has taken the chess under his wing. It's a great achievement and inspiring. There's a chessboard here and the students sit and play.“