Checkmate

Postman Gediminas Sarakauskas, from Lancaster Delivery Office, says he is ‘proud to be part of chess history’ after he was crowned the country’s rapid play champion last year.

It was the second time Gediminas has entered the British Rapidplay Chess Championships, and this time he went home with the trophy.

‘I first played in the championship in 2017,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t successful but I didn’t give up.’

Scoring a clear point ahead of the runner-up, Gediminas won nine games, drew one and lost one in the fast chess battles, where players have half an hour to make their moves.

Gediminas started playing chess aged six, and from 2001 to 2006 was a professional player in Lithuania.

‘There was lots of travelling, half of my time spent in Europe playing tournament after tournament,’ he said.

But when his family grew ‘chess wasn’t the best occupation’, he added.

After four years in an office job, Gediminas moved with his wife and three children to the UK in 2011. As a professional player he practised every day to keep his skills sharp. Now he plays in British and German leagues at weekends.

He says November’s tournament wasn’t easy. ‘I started very strongly, winning five games and managed to maintain my lead,’ he said. ‘I have the trophy at home, it has my name engraved on it alongside world class players. I’m very proud to be part of British chess history.’