The 2026 British Universities Chess competition was held in Dudley. Around 260 chess players from all over the country crammed themselves into one of the hotels to compete in 6 different divisions. Despite its relatively small chess club, Queen Mary had been able to field a team of four players in Divisions 4 and 6 respectively.
The 2026 British Universities Chess competition was held in Dudley, a suburb full of huge hotels, large parking lots, and little else. Around 260 chess players from all over the country crammed themselves into one of the hotels to compete in 6 different divisions. Despite its relatively small chess club, Queen Mary had been able to field a team of four players in Divisions 4 and 6 respectively.
Over the course of the weekend, competitive tensions quickly rose. Players got quieter and more serious – still finding time for the pub on the Saturday night however...
Both teams were doing well, with a draw in the first round followed by a series of wins. In fine margins for both, QM’s Team 1 edged it to win their division, while QM’s Team 2 got second place behind a dominant Oxford Team 4.
Team 1
At Board 4 for Team 1, Findlay stumbled a little at the start but then made good use of his usual darting style to win important final games. One slight opportunity was all he needed at times to decide a game. Final score: 5.5/9
At Board 3, Arsen wound up facing strong players, some with masterful opening preparation, even in his beloved Italian. He held up well however, and won when it mattered most, in the final round. Final score: 4/9
At Board 2, Orest was a constant threat for his opponents, and one often wondered if they struggled to face his solid style, or instead his intimidating glare. He played a large part in Team 1’s victory. Final score: 7.5/9
At Board 1, Elliot seemed often to be playing for the spectacle as well as for the result, with games regularly outlasting everyone else. This held true even to the final game, with the team gathering round to see him clinch a tough win against Cardiff. Final score: 7.5/9
Team 2
At Board 4 for Team 2, Orson met some very tough opposition but was able to secure wins in vital rounds. He continues to build a solid game on top of his English opening. Final score: 3/9
At Board 3, Jobayer was in top form securing win after win, only losing against Oxford in a very tight game nonetheless. He remained collected throughout and played positional chess, taking most of his opponents to the endgame to outplay them there. He had the best results out of any Queen Mary player. Final score: 8/9
At Board 2, Hamid was able to build some serious momentum at the start of games thanks to his knowledge of opening theory. Despite blundering in two rounds, he was able to hold onto draws and lost only to Oxford. Final score: 7/9
At Board 1, Luca played dynamic chess, sometimes sacrificing a piece for complicated attacks. Against such enthusiasm to play cutting edge lines, opponents often found themselves in impossible situations, conceding the win. Final score: 5.5/9
All in all, BUCA was an incredible experience from start to finish. We hope to represent Queen Mary once again next year, with similar if not better results!
If you might be interested in chess at any level, we heartily welcome anyone to the Chaplaincy tent to play chess with the rest of the society, every Tuesday from 6-9pm. Find out more about the Chess Society here.