David checks pin-up

ELEVEN-year-old Seaford chess prodigy David Howell will compete against the sport's glamour girl Alexandra Kosteniuk in London on Tuesday.

Earlier this year David took on Vladimir Kramnik, the only player to beat chess legend Gary Kasparov, and outmanoeuvred the champ in their final encounter, forcing him to offer a draw.

Chess pin-up Alexandra Kosteniuk, 18, was a runner-up at the Women's World Championship and made a splash in the tabloids due to her revealing dresses and striking looks.

The pair will battle at British Land's show piece development at Broadgate over four games on a giant chess board.

The contest will be as much a test of physical agility as of mental powers as they will have to speedily move the huge pieces on the board and dash to their clock to press the timer.

David, a pupil at St Andrew's Primary School in Meads, Eastbourne, took up the game after his father, Martin, bought him a board for 1.

He has won the under-eight, under-nine and under-ten British Chess Championships and came joint first in the European Under-12s.