In the first of two heats, six talented players from across the UK arrive at Cardiff's former coal exchange. They face a brain-boggling puzzle and a high-stakes speed chess battle.
The remaining players return to battle it out for a place in the semi-finals. They are faced with a giant projection screen, and realise an innovative challenge awaits, a memory test set by the the number one chess player, Magnus Carlsen.
In the second heat, six new players face a gruelling game of speed chess and a puzzle called 'the raging rook', which allows the players to showcase their mastery of one of the most powerful pieces.
The five remaining players from the second heat return to the Great Hall to battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals. The sense of trepidation is palpable as they face a mind-bending chess puzzle called 'the five queens'.
The three strongest players from both heats come face to face for the first time in the semi-finals. They meet child prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan in their toughest challenge yet.
The four finalists return for the last time to the Great Hall, ready to be put through their chess-playing paces like never before. Who will lift the winner's trophy?
