A SIX-YEAR-OLD has taken the top spot in a chess competition.

Thomas Mavin, a pupil at Yarm Preparatory School, at Yarm, near Stockton, Teesside, was competing in the Yorkshire Under Nine Chess Championships, held in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

He beat 43 other young players from West, South and North Yorkshire.

Towards the end of the competition, he had scored five and a half out of a possible six and needed to win the last game to take the title. He managed to do that and became the Yorkshire Under Nine Chess Champion.

As a result of his win, Thomas will take top board in the Yorkshire under nine squad.

His proud teacher, Johannes Grundmann, said: "It is an especially young age to achieve something like this. We are all very proud of him, as he has just turned six.

"In the past year, he has gone from strength to strength by winning championship after championship. This is the icing on the cake.

"He has set a good example to others by winning championships he takes part in. He is very consistent."

The future looks bright for Thomas, who will now play in the Inter County Chess Championship.

Mr Grundmann said: "We hope the England squad now sit up and take notice of him. It seems the sky is the limit for Thomas."