Samuel Franklin and Amy Hoare are two of the top young prospects playing this week. (Pictures by Tom Tardif, 0861146 and 144)

This is quite remarkable considering that south Londoner Franklin is just 15 years old.

It was one of the big shocks so far of the Intertrust Guernsey International Chess Festival at the Peninsula Hotel when on Tuesday the Dulwich College student conquered Bellin, who won the British Championship in 1979, after a ferocious attacking battle.

‘I think it was his game more than mine that contributed to the win, but I have to be happy with the way I played in that game,’ said Franklin.

Unfortunately for the young star, on Wednesday he came up against grandmaster Bojan Kurajica and was subsequently defeated.

‘I played badly, but he was really good,’ said Franklin.

Franklin is part of a number of juniors taking part in the weeklong tournament.

Another is Amy Hoare from Sussex.

The junior England player has just turned 13 and she is making her second appearance at the event after coming over two years ago.