Watford Chess Club is looking for sponsors ahead of Hertfordshire’s first junior international event which is to be held in the town this summer.

The club has held similar events in the past but this, to be held at West Herts Sports Club on Monday, July 27, is the first to be recognised by the World Chess Federation and to count towards international rankings.

Two Watford juniors are to play in the England team competing at the European Schools event in Crete, Greece while earlier this month two teams took part in the National Junior League.

The club’s junior manager, Roger Lancaster, said: “Very few under-12 tournaments in England, except the National Championships, are international recognised. This disadvantages our junior when competing abroad – something which events such as ours in July should help remedy.”

Past tournaments in the series, while not internationally recognised and without sponsorship, have offered over £250 in prize money, including £100 to an outright winner.

The club is looking to double that prize fund, and interested parties should email contact@watfordchessclub.org.