A Woodford Green schoolgirl defeated competition from across the country to win a national chess title.
Mary Cawdery, from Bancroft’s School. took the under-10 girls’ national title at the Delancey UK Chess Challenge Giga finals.
Judges found Mary showed “skill and composure under pressure”.
The Delancey Challenge attracted 700 children for the play-offs staged at Sandown Park racecourse on July 20.
“This showed the youngsters’ skill and determination,” Delancey founder Jamie Ritblat said.
“They highlight what impact chess has on children’s problem-solving, creativity and resilience.”
The children were vying for a place in the Tera finals set to take place at Blenheim Palace in October — only 60 players out of the 700 qualify, making it one of the country’s toughest junior chess events.
Mary was part of the school's under-11 girls team that reclaimed the national title at the English Chess finals last year, winning every match in nine rounds and conceding just one.
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