PUPILS at The Dell School in Chepstow have qualified for the Chess Championships in Greece later this year.

The international championships are to be held in October and a group of three children will travel with their families.

"I'm really excited," said Madeleine. "It's going to be brilliant."

The Dell Chess club is producing excellent players who are regularly winning competitions in Wales and the UK. The children practise weekly at school during lunch breaks with chess sessions also held at Chepstow Library on Tuesdays.

The co-founders of the town chess club are Richard Stevenson and Julie McIntosh. "We are helped by Russell Dodington, a strong player who coaches at St John's, Cardiff," said Richard.

"All of us give our time for free - there is no charge for attending the chess club at the town library.

"Neil, Mads and Anna also have weekly coaching, via the internet, from Tim Kett, former Welsh Champion which really helps."

The practice sessions are informal and aimed at creating an atmosphere of enjoyment. The children have internal competitions and play doubles chess - a fun form of chess in which two games run consecutively but the pieces taken from your opposite player go onto your partner's board to help them out.

"The girls usually beat us, but not always." said Luca Hodkinson

Pictured from left to right are: Neil Stevenson: current South Wales under 10 supremo, Madeleine Smith: current Welsh Under 10 Rapidplay champion and Anna Boyle: current Welsh Under 9 champion.