TWO Suffolk schoolboys who are among the country's most promising young chess players will act as ambassadors for the sport in a delegation to the House of Commons.

TWO Suffolk schoolboys who are among the country's most promising young chess players will act as ambassadors for the sport in a delegation to the House of Commons.

Patrick Stevens, 13, and Edward Venmore-Rowland, 15, who are both pupils at Woodbridge School, will give MPs a few top tips when they play against them on December 17.

The event is to promote chess as a sport and to encourage further Government funding to allow young players to take part in international competitions.

The MP for Redcar, Vera Baird QC, the Solicitor General, has a particular interest in supporting chess in schools and she invited the two Suffolk schoolboys and other England chess players.

The event will also mark the nationwide distribution of a quarter of a million chess sets, which were donated by a company free of charge to be sent to schools around the country.

Patrick and Edward have both represented England in the European Union Youth Championships in Austria and in the World Schools Chess Championships in Greece.

Patrick, who taught himself from a book when he was aged five, plays at Woodbridge School and in Ipswich junior chess club on Saturday mornings.

His honours include coming third in the England rapid play championships.

Edward, who has an international ranking, came fifth in the under 15 British chess championships and he has been invited to the Commonwealth Chess Championships in India.