Next move Norway

CHESS queen: Phoebe Price is representing England at chess

A SADDLEWORTH schoolgirl is hoping it will be checkmate when she represents England in an international tournament.

Phoebe Price (16), from Greenfield, has been selected to play at the Open Norwegian Girls’ Chess Championship. She played in the World School Individual Chess Championships in Romania last year.

The English Chess Federation is taking only four English girls to compete in the individual games this weekend.

The Manchester Grammar School pupil is a member of 3C Chess Club, Lees, and ranks as one of the top chess girls in the UK. She has been a player since she was five: her parents ran a chess club at her primary school.

She said: “When I was really small I used to watch others play at my parents’ chess club. I remember thinking it looked like a lot of fun so I decided to have a go!

“I’m really looking forward to the competition in Norway, but I’m a bit nervous. It will be a real challenge; my opponents are aged up to 26.”