PEMBROKESHIRE Chess Club’s juniors faced their Fishguard counterparts on Wednesday evening, with fourteen young players enjoying competitive games and valuable learning experiences.

Coaches were pleased to see developing skills put into practice, along with excellent etiquette and sportsmanship from both sides.

While winning is always enjoyable, the club emphasised that becoming a respected and fair player is far more important in both chess and life.

All participants performed well, but special mention was given to captain and Board 1 player Harry Harling, who achieved two outstanding results against a much older opponent graded around 150 points higher.

The club has recently welcomed 10 new junior members, bringing the total to 25. To support development, the group has been split into two, allowing coaching to be tailored to different levels. The club also hopes Fishguard will visit their Steynton HQ soon, giving more juniors the chance to play.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club continues to promote junior chess and is delighted to see Henry Burton (U11) grasping the opportunity to play Board 1 for the adult team.

Looking ahead, the juniors will travel to White Knights, Llanelli, during half term on 18 February for a return fixture. There is also discussion about matches with the newly formed Haverfordwest Chess Club, ensuring opportunities for both newcomers and experienced players.

The club also congratulated Redhill High, who took three teams to the Welsh Secondary Schools Championship and competed with distinction. A friendly match with them is planned for after half term.