A former British chess champion played against 13 schoolchildren at the same time when he dropped in at Letchworth’s Fearnhill School.

The Comet: Paul Littlewood ponders his next move against Evie Sheldon.Paul Littlewood ponders his next move against Evie Sheldon. (Image: Archant)

Paul Littlewood, an international chess master and UK champ for 1981, was invited by cover teacher Bill Thurl to take part in a ‘simul’ – an event where a strong player plays numerous matches at once.

He took on Fearnhill’s Aeden Morris, Khalil Brown, Luke Garner, Rui Martins, Don Hin Qiu, Don Fei Qiu, Sherwin Vaz, Liam Spicer and Jack Austin, plus Jacob Herron and Evie Sheldon from Pixmore Junior, Phoebe Webb from Lordship Farm and Dominic Weaver from Our Lady Catholic Primary School in Hitchin.

Paul, who won all 13 matches, also answered questions and gave tips on chess strategy and technique.

Luke Garner won the first prize for best secondary school player, while Aeden Morris and Jack Austin came joint second. Evie Sheldon won best primary school player.

Roshan Hunt, Fearnhill’s librarian and learning resource manager, said: “The library is an ideal venue for students of all ages and abilities to practise their chess, and we hope to be involved with more chess events in the future, starting with a friendly match against the Highfield School in the autumn.”