A proud moment for Norway as five students from Giske Middle School—Felix Wølner, Noa Brakestad, Herman Tonning Grønlid, Magnus Mjølsnes, and Anirudh Raturi—brought home the championship title in the prestigious Pequeños Gigantes international school chess tournament. The event took place in León, Spain, on November 23, where the team represented Norway with exceptional skill and teamwork.

From left: Team Leader Ivbjørn Nimki, Noa Brakestad, Magnus Mjølsnes, Team Leader Ingvar Wølner, Herman Tonning Grønlid, Felix Wølner and Anirudh Raturi.

The tournament was played on large outdoor chessboards measuring 3×3 meters, where the players worked together on their moves in 4 vs. 4 matches. The grand finale took place on the world’s largest chessboard, an impressive 144 square meters in size.

This victory follows the team’s earlier win at “Parksjakk” during Norway Chess 2024, an outdoor school tournament for children and youth in the Stavanger region. Their prize from Norway Chess was the chance to represent Norway in León in this exciting school competition, which featured 32 teams in total—30 of them from different provinces in Spain.

“Parksjakk”, outdoor children’s tournament during Norway Chess 2024

Four of the players who participated in this year’s “Parksjakk” 2024. From left: Anirudh Raturi, Felix Wølner, Noa Brakestad and Herman Tonning Grønlid.

Norway Team on Top

The tournament consisted of seven preliminary rounds, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and a high-stakes final. The team from Giske Middle School showcased exceptional strategy and teamwork, emerging as the ultimate champions.

As part of their stay in León, the middle school team also had the opportunity to meet the city’s mayor, José Antonio Diez, who expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament’s international significance.

A Memory for Life

Team leader Ivbjørn Nimki shared his excitement about the event and the team’s success:

“This has been an incredible experience for these five young players. Competing on an international stage like this has given them memories to last a lifetime.”

The awards ceremony was a triumphant conclusion to the tournament, with the team proudly bringing the trophy home to the city of Sandnes, Norway.

A Tournament with Sustainability at Its Core

Pequeños Gigantes is an initiative by Fundación RMD (a foundation created by our Chess sponsor Fundación RMD) and Chess4aBetterWorld. The program uses chess to promote values such as respect, collaboration, and environmental awareness. The tournament is played on large outdoor chessboards made from recycled tires, symbolizing the organizers’ commitment to sustainability.