Chess fever is sweeping through the schools of Macclesfield.

Alex Galloway, 41, organised the first Macclesfield primary schools beginners chess tournament earlier this month.

Nearly 40 children from nine different schools took part, with it being the first taste of competitive chess action for many of them.

Alex said: "It was a really good learning experience for them.

"They all played four rounds of chess in great spirit, and everyone seemed to have a good time.

"The feedback suggests that there will be demand for this on a semi-regular basis!"

Alex, who has been playing on and off for 15 years, runs the chess club at Rainow Primary School, where his children Martha and Arlo attend.

The club has around 20 regular players spanning years three to six, with a year two class now starting to learn the game as well.

Now in its second year, 2025 has proven to be a very busy year for the club.

Alex said: "Highlights have been travelling to Bolton for the qualifying round of the National Primary Schools Chess Championships, where our U9 and U11 teams both reached the next round of the event.

"The next round was at Nottingham High School, and saw us take on the best primary schools from across the North of England - we didn't expect to get through that one but the children gave an excellent account of themselves, punching well above their weight."

The Rainow team at the Nottingham event (Credit: Alex Galloway)

There has also been individual successes, with four of the Rainow team qualifying for the Northern finals of the Delancey UK Schools' Chess Challenge.

Alongside the big tournaments, Rainow have also played friendly matches against Marlborough School and against a year seven team from Tytherington School. 

"I am tremendously proud," Alex said.

"There are fairly few state primary schools with active chess clubs these days, and we're one of the smallest primary schools in Macclesfield, so to be able to get a team together for the big national events is an achievement in itself, let alone to be able to hold our own against the strong chess-playing independent schools, and against primary schools that are much bigger than ours.

"We are lucky to have a group of talented and hard-working children who really want to improve their game."

Asked what has driven such an interest in chess, Alex added: "I'm not sure there is a clear external factor that has inspired our children - they just like coming to chess club and doing the various things that flow from that. 

"I think most children generally enjoy playing games, learning new skills and competing against each other, and chess offers all of these things, so any school that could put on a chess club would find children wanting to play!"