A GIFTED young chess player has earned himself a call-up to the under-11 England team.

Ten-year-old Adam Burroughs, who attends Lawn Primary School, went to the England Chess Trials in Liverpool at the end of April.

It was a tough competition, with the strongest 50 under-11 chess players in the country present.

To be invited to a trial you need to attend various other competitions around the country and achieve a high score at them. Adam did just that and was overjoyed to have got in as an official under-11 England Squad member, having just missed out last year.

Adam, who lives in Lawn, has been playing chess from the age of five and was inspired by his older brother Luke while growing up who has also played chess for England.

"I missed out by half a point last year in the trials and it was very disappointing," said Adam.

"When the national coach rang me up this time I was very happy when he told me I was in the team.

"I was jumping up and down I was so excited.

"I am now looking forward to playing for England and hope to kick on this year with my game," he said.

It is the first time in at least 12 years that someone from Lawn school has gained a place in the England team while still attending primary school. Others have got into the squad while at a later stage.

The format behind the trial is simple - the more games you win, the harder the level of competition becomes as you are playing against competitors who are of equal standing as you are.

Head to head matches are timed at 50 minutes per game, with the winner receiving one point or half a point for a drawn game.

Adam is now looking ahead to matches against Wales and Belgium in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Fellow school pupil Megan Cleeves, 10, also went to the national trials, but did not qualify as an official squad player this time, although as an under-10 player she will have another chance next year.

Despite this setback Megan has already been invited to play for the Girls' Under 11 England team.

l Children from Janice Thompson Performance Trust in music finals: See page 13