Following a long run of outstanding chess victories, 12 year old pupil Theo Slade recently won the “Most Brilliant 
Game” trophy in the Open section of the 38th Guernsey International Chess Festival.
It was the strongest tournament Theo has ever played in, featuring players from 11 different countries including 4 Grandmasters.
Theo, who is in Form 1 of the Senior School, was the youngest and lowest rated player of the 78 entrants and all of his opponents were adults. He did really well, however, winning 2, drawing 3 and losing only 2 of his 7 games, finishing on 3.5 out of 7 and 38th equal, ahead of over 30 higher rated players.
In the last round, Theo played 79 year old Rudiger von Saldern from Germany, not only the oldest player in the tournament, but also playing his 37th Guernsey Open.
Despite his opponent having a World Chess Federation rating of 1999, Theo won the game in just 21 moves and, in doing so, won the “Most Brilliant Game” trophy. Theo’s World Chess Federation rating is 1716.
Theo didn’t know he had won the trophy until the gala dinner and prizegiving on the last night when the top Grandmaster went through the whole game in front of all 148 players, inviting their comments as he did so. He then called Theo up on stage to present him with the trophy.
The trophy is nearly always awarded to one of the Grandmasters and the organisers think this is the first time it has ever been presented to a junior in the 38 year history of the tournament.