A budding chess star will play for England at the world championships this year.

Koby Kalavannan has had a successful year on the chess circuit and was crowned U11 British champion, U12 British boy champion and the English Chess Federation junior grand prix champion.

The first year Hampton School pupil was also named best U11 player in the world’s largest school chess tournament, the UK Chess Challenge, and was invited for the sixth time to represent the country internationally.

The 11-year-old from Surbiton has only been playing chess for the past three years but said as soon as he moved his first chess piece he knew it was the game for him.

He said: “I really enjoy playing chess and play at every opportunity I can. Somehow my brain just understands how it all works and I love it.

“I used to play with my mum and dad but I kept on beating them so now I play online chess.”

Koby’s next challenge will be in December when he joins the England team for the 2013 World Youth Chess Championships in the United Arab Emirates.