THE coveted "Yorkshire Tyke" chess tournament accolade has been won by an Irishman, Colm Barry - who lives in Yorkshire.

His opponent in the final of the Appletreewick/Skyreholme International Chess Tournament was fellow Irishmen Guy Lyons - from Glasgow.

On him being presented with the prize of flat cap and braces, Colm said: "I will wear my flat cap with pride but I'm not sure about the braces."

In honour of the homeland of the two finalists, the crunch match was thrashed out at the Old Schoolhouse near Appletreewick, using a magnificent 'Dublin Pattern' chess set.

The two day competition saw players from around the globe - as well as home grown - driving and flying to converge on the picturesque setting for the fourth annual championship.

Unable to make it from his home in Princeton, USA, was the winner of the three previous tournaments, Jon Crumiller, a leading chess piece collector.

In a message to his fellow "tykes", Jon said: "My congratulations to Colm for his strong performance and successful result. Hopefully I can rejoin the battle next year, time permitting."

Tournament organiser and retired teacher, Jon Jordan said: "Jon was missed but the quality of chess played was still of the highest order."

Standing up for the competition's home county was local "tyke" and dry stone waller, Vince Banks. "He took it easy on them, generously losing all his games," said Jon.

And after two days of intense brain ache and chess piece shifting, the competitors quaffed a glass each of sparkling Yorkshire wine from the Leventhorpe vineyard - now a must-do competition tradition.

Mr Jordan, who owns the ancient schoolhouse, said his aim in presenting the winner with a flat cap and braces was to emulate the presentation of the green blazer at the golf Masters - this time to present a symbol of the county of Yorkshire.