TWO of Australia's best young chess players have been told by Sydney Grammar to find another school next year after taking unauthorised leave to compete in the World Youth Chess Championships in Brazil.

Kevin Willathgamuwa, 8, and his brother Rowan, 9, have also been excluded from Grammar's chess team competing in the Australian Schools Teams Championships at Knox Grammar this weekend, despite missing only one day of the long competition. The boys were away from school for 10 days. In Brazil, Kevin placed 10th out of 90 boys in the under 8s, and Rowan won half his matches. The Australian grand master, Ian Rogers, who was at the competition, said Kevin was clearly the best player of his age in Australia.

Told to find another school ... Kevin and Rowan Willathgamuwa at home with many of their trophies. Their parents were advised not to take them to Brazil. Credit:Sahlan Hayes

''It's incredible someone should be punished for missing two weeks of year 2 for representing Australia,'' Mr Rogers said. ''It was very important for him to go to the world youth championships. It's not just the tournament but it's important for him to see what other kids have achieved at the same age.''

The school had strongly communicated its position to the boys' father, Ignatius Willathgamuwa, before the family left for Brazil.