Event Time September 29th 2025

The Hilarity of Headwear: A Look Back at Our Funniest Hat Competition!

It’s only been a few weeks, but the memory of those magnificent, madcap creations is still making us smile! We’re taking a trip down memory lane to celebrate the spectacular success of our Funniest Hat Competition which took place on September 29th! Nothing cheers up the start of the school year quite like a healthy dose of laughter and some truly ridiculous fashion—all while playing serious chess.

A Cavalcade of Comical Caps

The brief was simple:  The funnier, the better. And boy, did you deliver!  Our participants went above and beyond, transforming everyday headwear into works of comedic genius.  The creativity on display was simply astonishing.  We saw hats that defied gravity, hats that looked like miniature feasts, and hats that seemed to have a life of their own.  It was a tough competition, filled with sequins, feathers, plastic fruit, and questionable structural integrity or was it all a dream?

♟️ Competition on the Chessboard

While the hats were undeniably the stars of the show, let's not forget the reason we gathered:  chess! The hat competition was held during a fantastic round of our Club Ladder Matches.  It was incredible to see players, wearing everything from birthday cakes to fleets of rubber ducks, maintaining laser-like focus over the board.

The concentration was serious, even if the attire wasn't.  We had some truly brilliant games that day, including a stunning Queen sacrifice by Ryan S and a tricky forced stalemate played out by Sofia K It just goes to show that a strong opening is much more important than a silly hat!  Well played to everyone who balanced the fun of the competition with the intensity of their match.

Judging the Jollity

Our panel of judges (whose identities remain shrouded in secrecy for their own protection—it was a very difficult decision) had the unenviable task of whittling down the entries.  They based their scores on three key criteria:

1. Originality & Creativity: Was the idea fresh and unique?

2. Execution & Effort: How well was the silly vision brought to life?

3. The Laugh Factor: Did it make the judges genuinely snort-laugh? (This was, frankly, the most important rule).

🏆 And the Winner Was...

After much deliberation, debate, and perhaps a few tears of joy, we finally crowned our champion.  A huge, massive, glitter-covered congratulations goes to Kayley for her truly masterful creation: "The Labubu Parade!"

Kayley went absolutely to town, decorating her hat with a collection of the highly sought-after Labubu plush toys that everyone is currently going crazy for.  The hat, which appeared to be hosting a tiny, mischievous monster convention, was a perfect storm of silliness.  It was meticulously crafted, instantly recognizable, and utterly absurd.  The combination of textures and the sheer commitment to current trends earned Kayley the coveted Prize and a year's supply of bragging rights.  Well done, Kayley!

Until Next Time!

We want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who participated, everyone who voted, and everyone who came along to witness the spectacle.  Your willingness to embrace the ridiculous is what makes our community so fantastic.  We’re already brainstorming ideas for next year's event, but one thing is for sure:  The bar for hilarious headwear has been set incredibly high!

Did you have a favorite hat that didn't win?  Share a photo or your memories in the comments below!