WITNEY Chess Club members warmed up for their forthcoming Weekend Congress with a Rapidplay tournament at The Batt Primary School.

And two West Oxfordshire youngsters were among the prize-winners.

There was a record entry of 74 players, up from 59 last year, making it the biggest event of its kind held in Oxfordshire.

There were three sections: adult, junior major for experienced juniors, and junior minor for young players just starting out in the game.

Oxford City Chess Club’s Jon Manley won the adult section with a score of 5.5/6, Witney’s Elisaveta Sheremetyeva won the junior major with 6/6, and The Batt School’s Bill Read took the junior minor prize with 10/12.

Witney Chess Club’s next big event is the Witney Weekend Congress, taking place at Cokethorpe School, near Ducklington, on the weekend of Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20.

The organisers are hoping to attract about 100 competitors from Oxfordshire clubs and from much further afield.

They will play in four main sections, catering for players of various strengths, competing for a prize fund of more than £1,300.

For details of the club and the congress, see witneychess.co.uk