Three young chess players from Swindon will be on their way to Sheffield to compete in the final round of the UK Chess Challenge after seeing off rivals from all over Britain at the national Gigafinal at Keele University.

Adam Burroughs, from Lawn School, Holly Carter, from Ruskin, and Jack Cleeves, from Lethbridge, all qualified for the Challengers section of the Terafinal after finishing among the runners up in their age groups.

All three finished with five points out of six, Adam sharing second place in the under sevens. Holly and Jack were each equal third, in the under eights and under tens respectively.

Several other Swindon and Wiltshire players narrowly missed progressing to the Terafinal.

Alex Cooper, from Dauntsey's, came nearest, finishing equal fifth in the Under 12 competition with 41/2 points out of six. Jake Farmer, from Thamesdown Junior Chess Club, was equal seventh with four points in the same section.

Also finishing on four points, just outside the leader board, were Michael Vertannes, from Holy Rood and Oliver Clifton, from Sherston, who shared seventh place in the Under 10 section, and Daniel Chan, of Lethbridge and Harry Cleeves, of Lawn, who were equal eighth in the Under 9 and Under 8 sections respectively.

Swindon's three young challengers will be off to test their strength against other runners-up in the inter-age group round of the competition on August 23 and 24 in Sheffield.