China and Chinese Taipei once again dominated the World Schools’ Championships, with Germany leading the European charge by winning the Boys’ School Team event. This is the first time in the history of the competition that an Asian country has not taken first place.

The final standings in Eilat, Israel, were:

Boys’ School Teams

1 Lessing Gymnasium, Düsseldorf, Germany
2 Shanghai High School, China PR
3 Athénée Royal Liège, Belgium (French Speaking Community)

14 London Academy, England

Girls’ School Team
1 Shanghai High School, China PR
2 Tam-Kan High School, Chinese Taipei
3 Athénée Royal Liège, Belgium (French Speaking Community)

12 Grantham College, England

Boys’ Selected Team
1 China
2 Chinese Taipei
3 France

5 England

Girls’ Selected Team
1 China
2 Chinese Taipei
3 France

6 England

In the individual events, players finishing first and second in their groups continue to the knockout rounds – others qualify for the ‘Friendship Doubles’, being drawn to play with players from other countries.

Alex Ramsden, Tom Jarvis, Eren Gozcu, Emily Bolton and Kate Cheer were all group winners – Denise Payet, Alec Ward, Billy Forster and Omar Khassal were second. Gozcu achieved his place in the knockout stage with a spectacular win over Tianyi Zhang (China PR).

In the first round Cheer beat Diana Khojagoryan (Armenia) 3-0, Payet beat Malaurie Mathieu (France) 3-1, Bolton beat Raaga Niveditha Balusu (India) 3-1, Ward beat Balakov Yavor (Bulgaria) 3-0 but all then fell in the second round with Ward losing to the No 1 seed Shihao Wei (China).

Ramsden recorded the best run to reach the round of the last 32 having recorded victories over Azaria Chen (Israel) 3-0 and Chun Yuan Chuang (Chinese Taipei) 3-0 before, like Ward, losing to Wei.

 At the conclusion of the Championships, the England Delegation were presented with the Fair Play Award.