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| 27 Apr 2026 | |
| Written by Maya Frampton | |
| Archives |
Did you know we had a famous chess champion amongst our Old Chigwellians? Victor Soanes (OC 1918-1926) represented Chigwell School 100 years ago in the British Boys' Final held in Hastings in 1926, and went on to play Aron Nimzowitsch, José Raúl Capablanca, and Hugh Alexander. After leaving Chigwell, he played, championed, and captained in a number of chess clubs and tournaments, before finally becoming President of the British Chess Federation in 1961.
So, in March 2026, the Victor Soanes Chess Tournament was held for the first time at Chigwell School. The final was played on the historic chess board and set won by Victor in 1926, which were donated to the School last year by his son, David Soanes, who sponsored the tournament with trophies and prizes.
The finalists were Aayan Yusuf and Jovan Rai, and the winner was Aayan Yusuf, of UV, Lambourne House.
The Tournament Final
David Soanes & Tournament Champion
Read about the history of swimming and the outdoor pool at Chigwell School in this 'Through the Archives' newsletter. More...
