CHESS champions from far and wide were in Sticklepath this weekend to take part in the Devonshire International Chess Tournament.

The event organised by the Devonshire Inn, at Sticklepath, was held in glorious sunshine on the Finch Foundry lawn last Saturday.

The event dates back to 1993 after the Devonshire Inn stepped in with an effort to resolve feuding in the international chess community by staging a world championship match in Sticklepath.

The offer was ignored and Sticklepath went its own way and staged a rival event.

Since then, the world chess authorities have continued to bicker, while the Devonshire International has grown in popularity and importance.

This year?s event was overseen by a neutral umpire, in the form of Beachcomber of the Daily Express, who travelled all the way from London to ensure fair play.

After three rounds of intensive competition the scores read: Duke of York A ? 11 1/2, The Dukes ? 6 1/2, The Devonshire and Torrington both 5 1/2, Chagford II ? 4 and Laughing Gravy ? 3.

However, at the prize-giving ceremony, the umpire insisted on a two-point age handicap bonus being awarded to the Devonshire, bringing their score to 7 1/2, then applied the Duckworth-Lewis adjustment for sun affected matches, which reversed the results of the last round and lifted the Devonshire score to 11 1/2.

The Devonshire captain was then presented with an autographed beer mat as a trophy, having been judged narrow overall winners on alphabetical order. The Duke of York A received the runners-up prize of a bottle of Walter Hicks 125 Navy Rum.

The North Dartmoor Chess League was won by the Duke of York, who mysteriously ended up with the traditional wooden pawn, while the winner?s shield ws presented to the Buller?s Arms.

The whole event was unanimously agreed to be the finest of the series so far.