A Muswell Hill chess club is basking in success after winning a national tournament.

The Muswell Hill Bishops have picked up the Online Division 1 Championship of the Junior 4 Nations Chess League.

The star-studded squad of 11 to 15-year-olds includes Andrei Bevan (Highgate School); Stanley Badacsonyi and Max Bird (Coldfall); Frankie Badacsonyi and Calvin Qiu (Fortismere); and Joshua Burnton (Latymer).

In the semi-final, the Muswell Bishops defeated Kent Junior Chess Association, before seeing off Hull & York in the final.

The club’s coach Kamlesh Karia, who runs sessions in Muswell Hill and Crouch End, said: “I am thrilled for the children.

“They deserve their success. They have effectively won the Premier League of junior chess team tournaments."

On top performers Frankie and Stanley, Kamlesh added: “As one of the parents said: ‘They are the Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min of the team.’”

Online chess has seen a boom over lockdown, in part thanks to Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit.

Ham & High: The remaining Muswell Bishop - Andrei BevanThe remaining Muswell Bishop - Andrei Bevan (Image: Kamlesh Karia)