Glenmuir, Campion for national final

Six-time champions Campion College and Glenmuir High will contest the final of the National Schools Chess Championships on Saturday, after winning their respective urban and rural-area divisions last weekend.

In the rural-area final, which was played at Glenmuir, the hosts, led by Noel Brown, turned back the challenge of Mannings in extra-time after both teams had played to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time.

This was in stark contrast to the urban-area final, which saw Campion outscoring Ardenne 3-1 at Ardenne Road.

At Glenmuir, the game was sent into a best-of-six lightning play-off between the teams' top two speed-chess players, Brown and Mannings' Raswain Woollery.

However, Brown proved to be too good for Woollery and in the end took the play-off 3.5 to 1.5.

The result propelled Glenmuir to their fourth national final since 2005.

In the urban-area final, played at Ardenne, Campion jumped into a 3-0 lead and never looked back, with captain Phillip Pryce leading the charge.

For Saturday's final, which is slated to start at 10 a.m. at a venue to be announced Campion, given their experience, will start as favourites.

However, Glenmuir with two relatively unknown players, is expected to give a spirited performances as they seek to etch their name on the championship trophy.