Olympic gold - it's all in the mind!

1:55pm Thu 15th May 08:: written by Laura Enfield

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Intense concentration is a trait common to top Olympians but what about the ability to negotiate a checkers board?

Talented pupils from St Piran's School have proved that board games are more than child's play after being crowned champions at the 4th annual Mind Lab Olympic Games.

Jesse Pajwani, Bruno Renucci, Ross Johnstone and Aaman Soni travelled to Oxford on Saturday to pit their wits against other pupils from across the UK. And they returned to Maidenhead having proved themselves masters at abalone, quoridor, checkers and octi.

Mind Lab is an educational programme which uses games from around the world to teach children skills for life.

The four logical youngsters have been honing their strategies and sharpening their minds all year at after-school training sessions.

Tensions rose when they took their seats but the quartet of brain boxes proved they have got the moves, remaining undefeated and being named National Champions.

St. Piran’s was one of the first schools to adopt the Mind Lab programme and last year achieved silver and 2nd in the world in Salamanca at the International Mind Lab Olympics. This year's team will now travel to Istanbul for the International Competition on June 1.

Watch our video report here.