IT was checkmate to the young pupils of St Edward's RC Primary School, in Darwen, 25 years ago.

For the school's chess team won the Blackburn, Darwen and Edgeworth Primary Schools Jamboree, in 1992.

The five, who made all the right moves that year, are seen here with their trained coach Arlene Gardener.

They are, from the left, David Clynic, Paul Brookes, Ian Fisher, Matthew Huxley and Paul Heyes.

It was a double success for the young players, for they had also captured the top prize the previous year, being joint winners of the jamboree, as well as being runners up in the primary schools league competition.

Chess is believed to have first been played in India back in the 6th century and it is known the Knights Templar also played the game in medieval times.

The modern game began with changes that were made in the moves of pieces back in the 1400s and modern tournament play began in the second half of the 19th century.

Chess clocks were first used in 1883, and the first world chess championship was held in 1886 - by the 20th century computers were also being programmed to play, testing the prowess of the casual player and the grand masters.