How winning BBC Two's Chess Masters: The Endgame reignited former Newport school student's love for chess

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Taking place at Cardiff’s former coal exchange with hosts David Howell, Sue Perkins and Anthony Mathurin, 12 rising stars from across the UK have been battling it out via a gauntlet of brain-bending puzzles and nail-biting eliminators to be crowned Britain’s Chess Master.

Whittled down to just four, the final episode saw chess enthusiasts Thalia, Richie, Kel and Lula take on a number of elimination chess games to bring the series to a close.

The final match, between Thalia and Richie, was a tense one - and the 20-year-old told the Shropshire Star she wasn’t too confident she would win. 

Thalia, currently on a gap year from studying history at university, said: “I had won every round before [the final], which was quite remarkable. 

“I don't know how I did that, but going into the final round, obviously, I was quite fatigued from the whole show.

“I was trying to keep that energy up. I played moves that looking back at it now, I wouldn't play.

“In the middle game, I was just convinced that Richie had won. I was like, ‘Okay, that's fine. You know what, second place? I'm very happy with second place.’”

Thalia said one particular song by hit band Rush inspired her to take some chances.

“When you're playing chess, you can get quite a lot of songs stuck in your head,” Thalia explained.

“I had a specific song called Roll The Bones by Rush. In the song, it says, ‘We go out in the world and take our chances, fate is just the weight of circumstances, that’s the way that Lady Luck dances, roll the bones.’

“They’re saying take the chances and create the chances for yourself. And I was like, ‘Let’s roll the bones here, let’s try and create a chance, try and create something to get going.”

The episode saw Thalia fight back - and Richie collapse under the time pressure - to lead the way for the young chess player’s victory.

Her journey to securing the trophy is a long one - and it began at the age of four.

Thalia said: “My dad took me to a fairground area where there were little stands for chess. I started playing there.

“I started playing against the people at a chess club, started getting better, started competing, eventually playing in England games.

“I did stop playing chess for a little while, because I felt like I had completed what I wanted to do with the England games.

“And then just in 2019 I then re-picked up chess after about a three year hiatus. It was just something that I just enjoyed doing.

“I played casually - and then I made an application to join the show.”

Looking back at the “incredible” once-in-a-lifetime week-long filming experience, Thalia said: “I enjoyed the experience so much.

“Obviously, it was very nerve-wracking to start off with, being surrounded by cameras at all times, but eventually I got used to it.

“I think the best thing about the show were the people that I met on it.

“Kel and I basically became best friends on the set of the show. We spent basically all our time just having random chats about things on our day. It was great.

“Also people in the final, like Richie and Lula, they're both really, really nice people.

“The crew behind the show as well were all really friendly and accommodating.

“Sue, David and Anthony were all incredible and really nice. It was a dream to play in front of David, who I have admired for quite a long time.”

The show has also brought back to life Thalia’s passion for coaching chess - and she’s now considering it as a career.

She said: “Like with a lot of hobbies, you have high points and low points, but going on to the show reinvigorated my love for chess.

“It made me start coaching again, which I haven’t done in so many years.

“And when I did it initially, it was a casual thing that I did on the side, just for a little bit of money, but now I'm trying to make it my main profession now.

“I run the Chester Junior Chess Club, and that has become a massive passion project for me and it's something that I absolutely love running for people.

“And teaching chess really has become something that I've honestly absolutely loved doing. That would be the thing that I've probably gained the most out of the show.”

Thalia added: “The trophy in my eyes is absolutely wonderful. I'm so happy that I won the show, but the main thing in my eyes is getting more people playing.

“I just want to be able to allow as many people to join in with the thing that managed to make me basically the person I am today.

“I mean, that is, by far the most important thing - to just inspire people and get more people playing the game. That's the thing that's next for me:  coaching, teaching, getting people involved.”

Find out more about Thalia Holmes via her official website for coaching chess.