Chess enthusiasts were given a thrashing when a top chess grandmaster visited – and played all 26 of them at the same time.

Players from Snodland and neighbouring chess clubs tested their skills against world championship quarter-finalist Sergey Tiviakov when he visited the Devonshire Rooms in Waghorn Road, Snodland, this week.

The Russian–Dutch chess grandmaster – who is a three-time Dutch Champion and was European Champion in 2008 – played all 26 opponents simultaneously and took just two-and-a-half hours to win 26 games without conceding any draws or losses.

Neil Miners, who is Snodland Chess Club Treasurer, and took part in the event, said "It was a rare opportunity to play such a strong player.

“Everyone had a great time, and we were amazed at the speed of Sergey's play; he only took seconds to work out moves that club-level players struggle to calculate ."

Snodland Chess Club meets at 7.30pm on Mondays in the Cricket Pavilion, Rocfort Road. Anyone is welcome, from complete beginners to Grandmasters.

Anyone who would like to find out more about playing chess should contact the organisers at snodlandchessclub@hotmail.co.uk