Six-year-old chess extraordinaire needs to get to Greece (From Sutton Guardian)

Six-year-old chess extraordinaire Haolin Zhao needs to get to World School Chess Championship in Greece

11:10am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

A six-year-old chess extraordinaire needs help getting to Greece to take part in an international competition.

Haolin Zhao, from Sutton, took up chess at the age of four and among all the English junior chess players he holds the highest ranking position in Europe and world.

According to Chess-DB.com, a large database ranking chess players, Haolin is rated in the top four under sevens in Europe and top 12 under sevens in the world.

After he won his section in the UK Schools Chess Challenge last year he was invited to play for England in the World School Chess Championship in Greece.

However, his dad Zhanfang Zhao, 46, a university lecturer at London South Bank University, cannot afford the costs to take his son to the championship.

His proud dad said: “He started quite early – at about four years old. He played with his brother. But he can beat his brother now and me. He is very good.

“He’s been invited to play for England in early May in Greece but it is very expensive it’s more than £2,000. We are looking for a business for sponsorship.”

His primary school, Robin Hood Infants, have supported Haolin in his chess playing and headteacher Pauline Cook is also urging a company to come forward to sponsor him.

The first winner in each age category is the FIDE (World Chess Federation) World School Champion for 2013 and will be awarded the FIDE Candidate Master title.

The costs will be around £2,000. If you would like sponsor Haolin to get to Greece email the newsdesk at ssleigh@london.newsquest.co.uk.