Chess competitor, Thalia Holmes, who first represented England aged ten, has begun offering lessons to children eager to learn the game. 

Thalia is keen to use her enthusiasm for chess to inspire the younger generation, with 16 years of experience,

She started playing at four years old, when her dad took her to Wolverhampton Chess Club.

The older players taught her the rules of the game and Thalia started picking up the basics, improving quickly and going on to compete in local tournaments. She made it to her first county match when she was nine, and went on to compete in multiple regional tournaments. 

The 20-year-old said: "I basically spent most of my childhood one weekend to the next going to different chess tournaments. So I've had a lot of experience within the chess world.

"I've grown up with the game; I'm now wanting to teach people more about chess in general. 

"I've always been really into anything to do with strategy and trying to work out things in the future. I just really like how technical the game is and how much brain power it involves." 

Thalia represented England against Wales when she was ten, after qualifying for the England chess set, and continued to represent her country, competing against France and Ireland when she was 12. 

Thalia Holmes has competed all over the country and now plays the game online (Image via: Thalia Holmes)

She considers her first game that she played against Wales as her crowning achievement in her chess career.  

Thalia added: "That's basically the biggest step up you can really get to when you're playing. 

"I remember when I was a child I noted down somewhere that my dream was to play for England one day and I managed to achieve that."

Thalia also secured a place in the The English Chess Federation, where a group of the country's top junior players were trained under international chess masters 

Now settled in Chester with some time on her hands around her studies, Thalia is keen to start teaching again, with steady interest and some lessons booked in already. 

The history student said: "Eventually I'd like to stop doing the current job that I'm doing and be able to do this full time. I'm just really passionate about the game and I want to help people start playing.

"The most important thing I've always found about chess is about competitive fun. The way that I've managed to continue playing chess for nine years with no break was because I played what I found to be enjoyable.

"I just say to any people who want to play, just have fun while doing it. If you're not having fun then find something else…even if it's in the game or outside."

You can book lessons with Thalia via her her website here.