Success Right Across The Board For Chess Champ

A YOUNG chess champion, well versed in the art of problem solving, was celebrating 10 A grade GCSE results yesterday, which includes an A* in maths.

Joseff Thomas, 16, of Monmouth School, also achieved another A* in French.

The Monmouth teenager managed to combine exam revision with preparation for the British Chess Championships held in Swansea earlier this month.

After a week of intense competition, Joseff emerged as the joint winner in the under-16 age group.

"I was pretty pleased to come joint first because I was mainly concentrating on my GCSEs in the months leading up to the competition," said Joseff.

"Preparation for chess tournaments is ongoing and you would be playing in minor events beforehand as playing is the best way of practising.


"During the GCSE revision period I stopped doing tournaments so I could concentrate on the academic side."


Joseff now intends to stay at Monmouth School to study maths, French, biology and Latin at A-level.


He harbours dreams of becoming a grand master one day and making a career in chess but is realistic about the prospect.


"It's quite tough to make a career but if I carry on improving it is possible," he said.


"It's something I would quite like to do but failing that I am quite interested in international business studies."


He added, "This summer I have managed to win £500 from various tournaments, though."


In the immediate future, Joseff will have to put his GCSE celebrations on hold as he travels to Poland over the weekend to captain the Welsh under-16 chess team in a European competition.


"It should be an interesting tournament as the boy who came joint first in the British Championships with me will be captaining the English team," said Joseff.