Mark Plowman will now represent Great Britain at the World Othello Championships in Prague 9th-12th October.

Mark, a 12-year-old student at The King’s School in Witney, Oxfordshire, was one of the contenders that competed in the tournament at Trinity College, Cambridge, on 15th September. The first official British Othello Junior Championships saw each competitor play six head-to-head rounds of the two-player strategy board game, with a 25 minute time limit. The skill level ranged from board game enthusiast to absolute beginner, and experts were on-hand to offer advice between games.

Mark, along with three other players, made it to the final on the same number of points, but was crowned champion after winning a tense tie-break – even beating his own twin sister. He will now travel on an all-expenses paid trip to the World Othello Championships in Prague with his father Guy Plowman (a UK Othello player himself), and compete against players from 27 different countries in the hope of bringing home the coveted World Champion trophy.

Mark commented: “I didn’t think for a second though that I would win the Junior Championships. I’m very excited to travel to Prague for the first time and compete on the world stage. I am going to practice a lot between now and then to ensure I have the best possible chance of winning.”

Lynette Norris, marketing manager at John Adams Leisure, added: “We were very excited to host the first official British Junior Othello Championships, and to find our winner who will go on and represent Britain in Prague. Othello is a firm-favourite family board game having been around for over 40 years. It’s exciting to see a new generation enjoying it and as a result of the tournament four new players have gained the tools and skills needed to set up an Othello club in their own school, which is fantastic. We can’t wait to see how Mark gets on in October – we’ll all be rooting for him.”