Local hopes Peter Rowe and Fred Hamperl, right, get in some practice ahead of the week-long tournament. (0656212)

A TOP Canadian and a highly-rated Croat are gunning for defending champion Tiger Hillarp-Persson at the 34th Fortis Guernsey International Chess Festival next week.

Many regulars have been attracted back to the island but it will be a first visit for grandmasters Kevin Spraggett from Canada and Bojan Kurajica from Croatia who will be eyeing the crown of the Swedish champion for the last two years.

Hillarp-Persson is a three-time winner of the Guernsey festival, but is not likely to find it easy.

Another top challenger is international master Robert Bellin, who was the British champion in 1979 and will be returning to compete in the Guernsey event for the 23rd time.

This year the tournament doubles as a British Championship qualifier, with the highest eligible player being awarded a place in the main British championship in 2009.