Ardenne's 13-year-old chess player Brandon Badal. - contributed

Widely considered to be the best team never to have won the National Schools Chess Championship, Ardenne High began their 2007/2008 campaign with a bang when they trounced a spirited Campion 'B' 4-0 at the Ardenne High School Library last Friday.

Led on board one by 13-year-old Brandon Badal, Ardenne started off slowly but eventually took charge on all four boards with about 35 minutes left in the match. Ardenne's greater experience eventually took them home unscathed with maximum points.

Convincing

Calabar 'A' were more convincing against Meadowbrook 'B', as their experience showed from early. There was at least one hopeful moment for Meadow-brook 'B', when their Board 3 player Denise Wilson went up a piece against 'schools chess veteran' Tremaine Gordon. Gordon, however, delivered checkmate before Wilson had a chance to convert her advantage. Calabar 'A' took the match 4-0.

In other matches Calabar 'B' and Meadowbrook 'A' played to a 2-2 draw while semi-finalists from last year, Queen''s, earned maximum points against Immaculate, as the latter failed to show.

Action in the St. Andrew Zone continues this Friday at 3 p.m. at the Ardenne High School Library.