TWO talented chess enthusiasts have qualified for the finals of a national competition.

Daniel White and Daniel Laverick, both pupils at Framwellgate School, in Durham, have battled through to the British Land UK Chess Challenge Gigafinal, to be held at the University of Manchester on July 9.

They were among a group of eight chess players from the school - along with schoolmates James Burton, Connor Wilton, Louisa Fenwick, James Corker, Jonathan Moore and Jonathon Smith - who met every week after school to take part in the early rounds of the competition.

Daniel White was the overall winner at the school and was presented with a trophy by headteacher Jean Sjovoll.

In all, four pupils won through to the challenge's megafinal held at Sunderland University last month, where the two Daniels were presented with rosettes after winning through to the next round.