AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy is gearing up for the World Chess Championships just weeks after he was selected to represent Wales.
Joshua Williams has already seen off opponents from Scotland and England, winning every match when he took part in the Under-12 Junior International Quadrangular 2012 held in Liverpool last month.
But now the youngster from Glyn Ceiriog is looking ahead to the international competition which takes place in Romania in April, with further events in Slovenia and Prague later this year.
He said: “I’m very excited about going, but also nervous.
“It will be really good going abroad and I’m hopeful of doing well.”
It’s been an impressive ‘gaming’ career for the Ysgol Dinas Bran pupil, who only took up the pastime three years ago under the watchful eye of his grandfather, Gwynne Williams.
Joshua’s mother Claire said: “He has done brilliantly. We were so shocked as there are only 10 on the team.
“My dad has always been into chess and when he looked after Joshua he said he would teach him.”
She added that a fundraising drive would soon start to support the forthcoming event in Romania.