By the Alster: Nearly 4,000 pupils gather for the world’s largest school chess competition

A true Hamburg tradition: since 1958, Hamburg’s Right Alster Bank has played against the Left Alster Bank! Yesterday, 3,744 pupils gathered on Hamburg’s Rathausmarkt to take part in the world’s largest school chess competition. This year, the opening move was made by Schools Senator Ksenija Bekeris together with Francesca, 10, and Thore, 10, from the Windmühlenweg Primary School. In the end, the Left Alster Bank won for the fourth time in a row, albeit by a relatively narrow margin, with 951½ points to 920½. That takes the overall score across all years to 40–22 in favour of the Left Alster Bank. This year, the team from Wielandstraße School took home the large challenge cup. | Photos: Nils Rhode