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10:11am Wednesday 27th February 2008

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BRITAIN'S top young chess players stopped off in Swindon - on their way to becoming grandmasters of the future.

New College was hosting the Wilts and West of England tournament, which decides who are the best local and regional players and is also open to players from outside the area.

Meticulous organisation and an army of around 30 volunteers, plus the excellent facilities at New College, mean that the Swindon event has a national reputation.

Now in its 22nd year, it attracts most of the top young players in the country, with 10 current British champions and 20 former title holders among the 250 who took part.

Players travelled from as far away as Yorkshire, Cheshire and Kent to play.

The senior section, for under 18s, featured many seasoned internationals, playing for a top prize of £130, but there was much more at stake for the best players in the largest age group - the under-12s - which was an England trial qualifier.

"We have gradually built the tournament up until it has become one of the favourites in the junior chess calendar," said Richard Hall of Old Town, who is the chairman of the organising committee.

"Because good players like coming here and because we think we have the best venue of any tournament held in Britain, bar none, players and their parents look forward to coming to Swindon.

"The calibre of many of the players is very high, which is good for local players because they are rubbing shoulders with potential grandmasters.

"One of the trophies has the name of Michael Adams on it and he's now one of the top 10 grandmasters in the world.

"If another British player emerges as a top grandmaster in the next few years, he or she was probably in Swindon on Saturday and Sunday.

"It wouldn't be possible without the sponsorship of Swindon Council and the support of New College.

"And with English chess set to boom over the next few years, Swindon should be proud that the town is already firmly on the chess map."

Adam sweeps the board

Churchfields School pupil Adam Burroughs, 11, had plenty to celebrate after walking off with the Wiltshire and the West of England under-12 titles although his latest success comes as no surprise.

Adam, who has been playing chess since he was five years old, is already a member of the current England junior squad, and has represented his country in matches against Wales and Belgium.

And he's looking forward to travelling with the team to the Ukraine in May.

"Playing for England is good because we get to go abroad without our parents," said Adam, whose older brother, Luke, also played for his country.

They have a younger brother, James, who also plays chess. But the brothers' ability doesn't come from their mum, Dawn, who, in spite being chairwoman of Wiltshire Junior Chess, the county's governing body, doesn't play the game.

"I tried to teach her to play, but she doesn't listen," said Adam.

At least he gets a chance to practise at his school, Churchfields, where there is a chess club, and he is sometimes challenged to a game by teachers.

"My maths teacher, Mr Stillman, played me once," said Adam, "But the bell rang, just as I was about to checkmate him. And he said we didn't have time to finish."