(Image: Crest Photography)
A seven-year-old Newcastle schoolboy has finished third in a national chess competition just weeks after becoming a British champion.
Dame Allan’s Junior School pupil Hansen Ji took part in the UK Chess Challenge Terafinal, competing against some of the country's top young players.
He scored eight points from 11 games — seven wins, two draws and two losses — to finish third in the under-eight category.
Hansen Ji, a Year 3 pupil at Dame Allan’s Junior School, competing in the 2026 Delancey UK Chess Challenge Terafinal at Blenheim Palace_ (Image: RAHIL AHMAD)
A delighted Hansen said: "Most of the games were hard and you cannot afford to make any blunders.
"All the players become friends during the competitions, and we appreciate each other's achievements."
The Terafinal result adds to Hansen’s achievements this year.
Hansen Ji at the 2026 Delancey UK Chess Challenge Terafinal at Blenheim Palace (Image: Supplied)
In August, he clinched the British Chess Championship under-1500 rapidplay title, winning six out of seven games.
He qualified for the Terafinal after a flawless performance at the Northumbria Megafinal and 17 wins from 21 games across three Gigafinals in Edinburgh, Manchester and Esher.
His mother, Yunfen, said: "This was his first time competing in such a high-level junior competition, so he has done amazingly well and is very happy with his third-place trophy."
His father, Yameng, said the experience gave Hansen “valuable insights into playing serious games” and boosted his confidence for future competitions.
Hansen began playing chess at Dame Allan’s, where it is part of the Year 3 curriculum.
He has sharpened his skills by practising for about 30 minutes a day at the junior school’s chess club and attending Forest Hall Chess Club each week.
Hansen is developing his game under International Master David Eggleston while competing for Forest Hall Chess Club in the Northumberland league.
He said: "I really enjoy spotting tactics and playing fast games with very tight time controls."
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Geoff Laidler, head of Dame Allan’s Junior School, said: "To achieve third place nationally at just seven years old, competing against players who are mostly a year older, is a fantastic achievement.
"We’ve introduced chess into the Year 3 curriculum to help develop pupils’ strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as giving them opportunities to learn from one another.
"Hansen started out learning alongside older students in our chess club and is now helping his classmates."