CHESS crazy pupils from Powell’s Primary School and Rendcomb College were evenly matched as they battled it out to lift the Bingham Library Trust Chess Shield 2013.

The school teams had defeated Fairford, North Cerney and Kemble schools to reach the final, but on the day they could not get the better of each other and the competition was declared a tie.

Cirencester mayor Joe Harris presented the shield to the team captains and both schools will now hold the shield for half a year each.

Junior chess coordinator at Cirencester Chess Club Robin Craven organises the inter-school chess competition each year. He said: “The idea behind the shield is to in promote chess at a junior level in and around the Cirencester area.

“It was great to see the children come in, all excited and buzzing and then when the chess started the focus on chess took over instantly and all was intensely quiet.

“The standard of chess played for children of their age was remarkably high.”

Mr Craven is hoping that in future more senior schools will build upon this wealth of talent at primary school level and set up their own chess clubs.

* Cirencester Chess Club meets at 7.15pm on Tuesdays at Bingham Hall, Kings Street, Cirencester, September-May and at The Crown in West Market Place during the summer.