Dartford Juniors Win Inaugural KCCA Foundation Cup
Dartford Juniors are the 2026 KCCA Foundation Cup champions — and the first team ever to lift the trophy.
On Saturday 30th May, our squad beat Petts Wood & Orpington 2½–1½ in a tense final to write their names into Kent chess history. The trophy is already engraved: Dartford Juniors — 2026.
Match Results
| Board | Dartford Juniors | Result | Petts Wood & Orpington |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aarush Shankar | ½–½ | Avisha Raj |
| 2 | Saurish Pandey | 1–0 | Edward Graveston |
| 3 | Hari Jain | 0–1 | Bihaan Dutta |
| 4 | Aarav Yadav | 1–0 | Rupinder Kaur |
| Dartford Juniors | 2½–1½ | Petts Wood & Orpington | |
How It Unfolded
The final was a nerve-shredding afternoon. Aarav struck first with a clinical win on board 4 against Rupinder Kaur, putting Dartford Juniors ahead. Hari then lost a hard-fought game on board 3 against Bihaan Dutta, levelling the match.
Aarush had a winning position on board 1 against Avisha Raj but accepted a draw, leaving the score at 1½–1½ with everything resting on the final game. A draw on the last board would have given Petts Wood & Orpington the title on board count — all the pressure on one player.
Saurish held his nerve on board 2, defeating Edward Graveston to win the match and seal the cup for Dartford Juniors. A moment none of the players or their families will forget.
The Squad
- Aarush Shankar (Board 1)
- Saurish Pandey (Board 2)
- Hari Jain (Board 3)
- Aarav Yadav (Board 4)
Luke Hutchins and Naksh Inani also represented Dartford Juniors during the earlier rounds of the competition and played important roles in getting the team to the final.
Every one of them should be incredibly proud — the first name on a brand new trophy, and proof of what chess in Dartford is building.
Looking Ahead
Head coach Miro Danov will be raising the bar for next season, entering the squad in a higher competition while a second Dartford Juniors team defends the Foundation Cup title. The future of chess in Dartford is bright — and this is just the beginning.