SOME of Dorset’s brightest youngsters found themselves between a rook and a hard place when they faced off at the county's junior chess championship.

Around 80 children between the age of seven and 18 moved their pieces around the board for hours at the Dorset County Junior Chess Championship on Saturday.

The tournament was held at Ferndown Upper School - just one of the schools in the county which now offers its pupils chess tuition.

It was open to both novices and experienced players and all participants were guaranteed at least six games of chess before the players with the most points met each other over the chequered board.

After six hours of play Bournemouth Collegiate School pupil James Forster was finally crowned Dorset junior champion.

Tournament organiser Eric Sachs it was great to see so many youngsters show up for the tournament.

"We have some very talented young players in the county and it's great to offer them a competition like this where they can show off and even enhance their skills.

"It's just great to give children something to do with their time other then playing on a computer," added Mr Sachs, who has been playing chess since he was eight.

"Chess is also one of those games which crosses borders and languages.

"It doesn't matter where you go around the world most people have at least heard of chess and in the cosmopolitan society we live in I think it's so important that youngsters can get to know each other and make friends over the chess board."

But this is just the tip of the chess iceberg for 2016.

According to Mr Sachs this is a big year for the game in the conurbation.

"There are so many exciting events happening in the area which will only add to the growing popularity of the game," said Mr Sachs, who runs a chess class at Bournemouth Library every Saturday.

"We have the Mayor of Bournemouth competition in May and then in July the British Chess Championships will be held in Bournemouth for the first time since 1936.

"It's a really big deal to be chosen as the host town and will also mean an influx of grand masters coming to the area.

"Our youngsters will have a chance to show off their chess skills during the championship as well."