KING'S School Worcester pupil Josh Clarke is the new Worcestershire junior chess champion. 

He gained 14 points, winning all but one of his games which was drawn.

In second place with 13 was Dillan Duke (Clifford, Herefordshire) on a tie-break. 

Both players are members of Worcestershire Junior Chess Academy who won the team championship with 39 points.

Other members of the winning team were Edison and Delton Scaria (both Blessed Edward Oldcorne College, Worcester) and Katie-Ella Duke (Little Dewchurch School, Hereford).

The second-placed team was Alvechurch.

Michelle Zhu, of King’s Hawford, won the girls’ championship with nine points on a tie-break from Abigail Edwards (St Andrew’s First, Barnt Green).

Edison Scaria (Blessed Edward Oldcorne) was the under 13s champion with 12.

The under 11s champion on 13 was Cameron Henry (King’s Hawford).

He outscored the best under 13s player and led the tournament until the last round when he lost a hard-fought game to the eventual overall winner Clarke.

Noah Sullivan and Abigail Edwards, both of Alvechurch Middlen, took the nine and under and seven and under honours respectively with nine points.

Prizes were presented by Dr Ray Collett, president of the Worcestershire Chess Association, who praised the players for the quality of their games.

Collett revealed he had confidence in the future of county chess because young players are coming through to take important positions in adult teams.

Monty Woodhouse (King Edward’s, Edgbaston) captains the Worcestershire under 120 team who recently beat Staffordshire in their opening match for the Midlands title.

Teenager Finlay Bowcott-Terry played top board in the county first team.

Nigel Towers, organiser for West Midlands Chess in schools and communities, and Simon Berry, chess coach at King’s Hawford, were arbiters for the tournament.

The county junior academy meet on Saturday mornings at King’s School Worcester.