On 9/19, the Harrow Shanghai 2026 Age Group International Schools Chess Open, co-hosted by Harrow Shanghai and Chessmate, came to a successful close. Competing on home ground, Harrow’s players delivered outstanding results, winning the U10 and U12 team titles, as well as the U8 team runner-up trophy.
The individual results were impressive:
U8: Angust S claimed the championship, while Cheyenne C finished as the second-highest-ranked Best Girl award.
U10: Roy L was crowned champion; Bohan H placed 11th; and Lillian C finished as the third-highest-ranked Best Girl award.
U12: Winnie H placed 5th, Harrison Q 6th, Evelyn Z 7th, Amelia Z 10th and XuanRui T 11th. Winnie, Evelyn and Amelia also swept all three Top Best Girl awards in the section.
U14: Charlie H secured third place.
For several of our U8 players, this was their first formal chess tournament. Although Winston S and Marco Z have only recently taken up chess, they stepped confidently into a competitive setting and discovered the pure enjoyment of tournament play.
U8 star Angust S, already seasoned through a range of major competitions, led the section and claimed the individual title, helping Harrow secure the team runner-up trophy. Seven rounds tested far more than chess ability: they demanded concentration, stamina and determination. Every Harrow U8 player fought through to the final round and achieved a personal breakthrough.
Competition in the U10 section was intense, but Harrow’s players demonstrated both excellent chess and remarkable resilience. In the second round, Bohan H faced one of the section’s leading title contenders. Under sustained pressure from a highly experienced opponent, he fell into a difficult position but refused to give in. Fighting all the way, Bohan turned a likely defeat into a draw and earned a crucial half-point for the team. As the clocks stopped, teammates and parents watching the live broadcast in the lobby burst into applause for his fighting spirit. Lillian C also faced a challenge during the tournament. After a difficult loss, she refused to allow the disappointment to affect her remaining games. She gradually regained her focus and rhythm, carefully navigated each position and completed the seven rounds with three wins and two draws, earning third place among the U10 girls. Roy L’s path to the title was filled with twists. A first-round forfeit by his opponent left him at an immediate disadvantage on tie-breaks and denied him the opportunity to play one of his scheduled games with White. In a crucial later round, Roy faced his main title rival with the black pieces. Despite a highly complex and difficult position, he fought hard to secure a draw, leaving the championship to be decided in the final round. Roy entered his last game determined to win. He seized his opponent’s mistake and converted the opportunity with confidence. With the leading players tied on points, Roy moved ahead on tie-breaks to become the U10 champion—another thrilling comeback that demonstrated his strength and competitive consistency.
Harrow’s U12 squad produced one of the tournament’s strongest all-round team performances. Led by newly appointed captain Winnie H, all five players achieved excellent individual placings and combined to win the U12 team title.
Harrison played an excellent tournament, showing greater maturity in his decision-making, time management and handling of key positions. In the final round, Evelyn faced the section’s top seed. She remained fearless under intense pressure and fought to the very end. After an unfortunate time loss in her opening game, Amelia quickly reset, adapted and climbed steadily through the standings with a series of strong results.
XuanRui experienced a particularly dramatic set of pairings, meeting several of his own Harrow teammates during the tournament. Facing familiar playing styles did not make the games any easier; instead, it demanded even sharper judgement and adaptability. He remained focused throughout and demonstrated both solid chess and impressive consistency. Most remarkably, only three girls finished inside the U12 top ten—and all three represented Harrow Shanghai. Winnie, Evelyn and Amelia not only swept the section’s three Best Girl awards, but also made important contributions to Harrow’s team championship. Seeing all three Harrow girls standing together on the podium was one of the tournament’s proudest and most memorable moments.
Winnie also served as the student host for the event. Speaking confidently before the players, families and guests, she demonstrated the communication skills, responsibility and leadership expected of a Harrovian.
In the U14 section, Charlie H made an impressive return to competitive chess, quickly rediscovering his rhythm and securing third place.
The U18 section brought together many of Shanghai’s strongest secondary-school players. Competing at this level for the first time, Nathan Z faced a series of formidable opponents with composure and determination. He finished with 3.5 points, gaining valuable experience in an exceptionally demanding field.
The games may be over, but the journey continues. Every player who competed with courage and determination has something to celebrate. May our Harrow chess players continue to think boldly, play fearlessly and shine in the tournaments ahead!
