Every year for the last three, Pre-Prep's leading chess player has been invited to take part in a special challenge match with the Headmaster as part of his or her reward for winning the Pre-Prep Chess Club Championship.
Mr Hooke has vanquished all his young challengers so far but now one of his previous opponents has turned the tables. Ten-year-old Tom, now a pupil in Harrodian 9s, has been thirsting for revenge since the Headmaster defeated him two years ago. And on Friday 8th June he ended the Headmaster's winning streak in what Mr Hooke describes as a "one-off challenge match".
The crunch game turned out to be a ding-dong affair. When Mr Hooke surged into an early lead by capturing Tom's queen there was no hint of the drama to come. But then a daring counter saw the Young Pretender first capture Mr Hooke's queen and then embark on a twin-rook pincer movement to deliver the coup-de-grace.
Mr Hooke was as generous in defeat as Tom, the smiling victor was modest after his shock win. With the career score now tied at 1-1 there is no news yet on the prospects for a decider.
