Giersings Realskole from Odense has made waves in the world of school chess by being crowned the Nordic school team champion in the U13 category. The school’s B team showcased exceptional skill at the Nordic Championship for school teams, which took place from 11–13 September in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Championship Overview
The championship featured two age groups, U13 and U17, with six school teams from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Finland competing in each category. The format consisted of a five-round round robin, where teams played with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The final standings were determined based on board points, which took precedence over match points.
Entering the U13 field as the rating favorite with an impressive average of 1779, Giersings Realskole B had a strong start. They opened the tournament with a 2.5–1.5 victory against Tåsen Skole from Norway on Friday. The following day, they swept Finland’s Puolalan Koulu with a commanding 4–0 win in the morning session. However, they faced a setback in the afternoon, losing 1.5–2.5 to the Swedish team, Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser.
Despite the loss, the title race remained competitive as Adolf Fredriks had also lost to Tåsen. On Sunday, Giersings clinched a decisive victory over Iceland’s Langholtsskóli with a score of 3.5–0.5, putting them in the lead on board points heading into the final round. In an exciting conclusion, all three contenders won their last matches, but Giersings Realskole B topped the leaderboard with a total of 14.5 board points. Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser followed closely, matching the Danes on 8 match points but falling short in board points.
Individually, August Beier delivered an outstanding performance, achieving the best score among Danish players with 4/5 on board two, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, Charlie Vo scored 3.5/5 on board one, and Naya Harpsøe, the only girl in the delegation, won both of her games, showcasing the team’s depth and talent.
Here are the final U13 standings:
- Giersings Realskole B (DEN): 14.5 board points / 8 match points
- Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser (SWE): 13.5 / 8
- Tåsen Skole (NOR): 13 / 7
- Langholtsskóli (ISL): 8.5 / 4
- Västbergaskolan (SWE): 7 / 3
- Puolalan Koulu (FIN): 3.5 / 0
The victorious Giersings Realskole B team consisted of:
- Charlie Vo (1939): 3.5/5
- August Beier (1809): 4/5
- Frederik Andersen (1719): 2.5/4
- August Rønbak Jørgensen (1648): 2.5/4
- Naya Harpsøe (1457): 2/2
Team leader: Chris M. Christiansen
This championship victory not only highlights the skill of the individual players but also underscores the strength of Giersings Realskole’s chess program, making them a force to be reckoned with in the Nordic region.