A TEENAGE chess whiz brought the hammer down on a television auctioneer this week.

Year nine RGS Worcester pupil Ben Chin-See pitted his wits against antiques star Phillip Serrell, who has a salesroom in Barnards Green Road, Malvern, in the game of strategy and skill for the BBC 1 programme Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

The match was staged to decide the price that the school’s deputy head Nigel Lowson was prepared to pay for a chess set bought by Mr Serrell at a car boot sale.

Despite his gift for the gavel, Mr Serrell stood little chance against Ben's chess prowess.

Mr Lowson ended up handing over £25 for the set that would have been £35 if Mr Serrell had won.

Ben, who lives in Worcester, said: “We filmed it in our main hall in May last year and it was amazing and great to meet Mr Serrell, he was really nice.

“I was pretty confident when I faced him over the chessboard, but we were all sworn to secrecy about the result before the programme went out on television. It was the best morning I’ve ever had.”

The programme was broadcast last week and Ben's segment can be found at 28 minutes and 20 seconds into the show on the BBC iPlayer.