Hackney chess champ through to national final

A chess whizz has beaten over 50,000 other hopefuls to make it through to the final of the largest chess tournament in the world.

Kacper Filar, 14, from The Urswick School in Paragon Road, Hackney Central has qualified for the Southern England Gigafinal of the Delancey Schools National Junior Chess Championship, which takes place in Reading in July.

Kacper said it was very exciting to make it through: “I played six games on Sunday, including one against the reigning champion, which was a really close game.

“My granddad, who lives in Poland, was so happy to hear that I had qualified.

“He won a big chess competition when he was younger and then taught me how to play.”

Maths teacher Sue Caldwell, who runs school’s chess club and is a former member of the English National Women’s team is delighted for Kacper: “He will be competing with some of the best youngsters in the country.

“Chess is a popular activity at the school and Kacper has been a stalwart of the club since it started, often helping to teach the younger pupils.”