First for chess boy David

SEAFORD chess prodigy David Howell, 11, has created a world record by becoming the youngest player to score against a world champion.

He drew one of four blitz matches against world champion Vladimir Kramnik from Russia in a challenge match in London on Friday. Under the high pressure rules each player has only five minutes per game to complete the moves.

David said: 'I have played in front of an audience before, but there were so many people watching. He is such a strong player and he makes good moves.'

David, who lives in Kingsmead Walk with his parents Angeline and Martin, took the chess world by storm aged only eight by beating senior grandmaster Dr John Nunn. He added: 'Not many people get to achieve these kind of records.'

Mr Kramnik admitted he had felt the pressure of going up against the Seaford youngster. He said: 'It was always going to be quite difficult psychologically because it can always happen that you lose.'

The Russian player became world champion in 2000 when he ended Garry Kasparov's 15-year reign.

David, a pupil at St Andrew's Primary School in Eastbourne, took up chess aged five when his father bought him a chess board for only 1. Within an hour of learning the rules he had already beaten his dad.