There were 17 juniors present today, which is quite acceptable and reasonable, especially when taking into account that many other summer activities and events are happening simultaneously. This number reflects a good level of participation given the busy summer schedules.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Jon Catchpole and Sam Gorsuch for their incredibly valuable help and support throughout the course of today. Their assistance proved to be truly indispensable and made a significant difference.

A straight line is not always best

The crooked path is useful when manoeuvring your king towards a pawn or an important square. Unlike straight-line movement, the crooked path allows your king to influence more squares and control the opponent’s king’s movement. For example, if your king takes a zigzag path towards a pawn, it can cut off the opposing king’s route, forcing them to waste moves and allowing your king to gain a crucial tempo. This technique is especially helpful in preventing your opponent from trapping your king or stopping your pawn from promoting.

Notice that all routes taken from e1 to e8 are 7 only moves each

In this first example White tries to capture the Black pawn by taking a straight line approach, but the Black King has time and saves the day with a draw.

Take the crooked path to win:-

This time the White King takes a 'crooked path' approach which blocks the Black King and forces it to take a side step resulting in the White King gaining a Tempo and going on to win.

Ladder results and tables.

Great victories today from Henry N, Rowan, Michal, Jack, Uzzaer, Constance, Eden, Arnav, and Zayd. Each of these individuals performed exceptionally well and secured wins that truly reflect their hard work and dedication. It’s inspiring to see such consistent success from this talented group.

Uzzaer is demonstrating that he is a remarkably strong and capable player, steadily catching up to Kieran, who was AWOL today. Meanwhile, Wyatt continues to maintain close contact and stay in the game.

Lewis consistently keeps his nose well in front of both Eden and Michal throughout the entire competition.

Zayd faced several challenging and tough games today but managed to maintain his position out front despite the pressure. Meanwhile, Rowan had a very strong and impressive day, playing well consistently, which allowed him to close the gap significantly.

There are only 3 more weeks remaining until the Ladder Tournaments close, so stay focused because this is your chance to climb the ranks and prove your abilities in the competition.

See you next week!