WELCOME
On behalf of the team at Chess Power I want to wish you a very warm welcome to the Chess Power ONLINE Teams National Finals 2024 Chess Championship.
We’re thrilled to bring together our chess community once again, both onsite and online, for an event that celebrates the talent and determination of young players across New Zealand. Chess continues to experience tremendous growth not only here at home but also around the globe, with more schools, families, and communities recognizing the profound impact it has on young minds—fostering skills in critical thinking, resilience, and creativity.
For many of our players, competing at Nationals represents a dream come true, one built through dedication and countless hours of practice. We are committed to making this experience truly special, something they—and you—will cherish and remember.
Thank you for being part of this exciting journey, and for supporting these inspiring young players as they showcase their hard work and passion for the game. We look forward to sharing a memorable tournament filled with learning, growth, and the joy of chess!
Onsite Teams Nationals 2023 Intermediate Division Champions
Auckland Normal Intermediate
This welcome letter is for the ONLINE Team Nationals. There is a separate welcome letter for the onsite Team Nationals, and the onsite and online Champions Trophy events, linked below.
To all our parents, teachers and organisers, thank you for supporting our tamariki and giving them the opportunity to enjoy a truly memorable and unique experience. As always, we really appreciate your continued support.
We have a total of 717 players registered for our National program of events. For the online teams nationals we have 172 players registered. We are excited to meet all of you again and will do our best to ensure your experience is a positive one.
View a map of the schools participating in the ONLINE Team Nationals 2024.
DATE
We recommend you check your technology is working correctly in the days leading up to the event. Here are some steps to check everything is working.
1. Click the Zoom link https://us04web.zoom.us/j/
2. Once Zoom has started, click the small arrow next to the Mute button. In the popup menu, press Test Speaker & Microphone.
3. Check to make sure you can hear and your microphone is working
NATIONALS TECH CHECK
We will be running two Zoom sessions prior to the Team Nationals for players to check their technology.
Connect Check: Wednesday 23 October 6:00pm - 7:00pm
This session will be for players to check that Zoom is working correctly and they can connect and check-in to Tornelo.
Back Camera Check: Friday 25 October 6:00 - 7:00pm
This session will be for players to check their back camera is connected and positioned correctly and ready for play.
Players who do not have teacher supervision and do not have a back camera connected during the event will not be able to participate!
For both sessions, use this link to connect to Zoom https://us04web.zoom.us/j/
Connect to Tornelo ready for check-in using this link https://tornelo.com/chess/orgs/nzjunior/events/chess-power-online-team-nationals-all-divisions--6.
To check-in, go to the website
LATE ARRIVAL?
8.00am Guests arrival start9.00am All guests should have arrived
9.30am Opening Announcements10.00am Start Round 110.35am Start Round 211.00am MORNING TEA BREAK11.20am Start Round 311.55am Start Round 412.30pm Start Round 51.00pm LUNCH BREAK1.30pm Start Round 62.05pm Start Round 72.30pm AFTERNOON TEA BREAK2.50pm Start Round 83.25pm Start Round 94.00pm Fun Activity!4.30pm Prize Giving5.30pm Tournament Close and Farewell
We want to stress the importance of Fair Play. Essentially this means that you cannot gain assistance during your games in any way. You can read more about how we protect players in the guide.
Results of games for all divisions will be recorded live and are available on the website https://tornelo.com/chess/orgs/nzjunior/events/chess-power-online-team-nationals-all-divisions--6. You can also use this link to see the other teams that will be participating in your division and the players that make up each team as well as individual and team results.
As this is a school teams event school uniforms are required. Video is required to be turned on so people can see you. We recommend you come best dressed as this shows your team is well organised.
PRIZES
Trophies
FREE Entry to the Champions Trophy
The top 10 individuals in each divison will gain free entry to the online Champions Trophy on the following day. An email confirming attendance including which event you wish to attend must be sent to events@chesspower.co.nz before 8pm on Saturday evening.
Note: Players who have already paid for the Champions Trophy are not eligible for refunds.
JUNIOR DIVISION
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION
SENIOR DIVISION
X-Chess Launch
We’re extremely excited to introduce X-Chess at this year’s Nationals! X-Chess offers a refreshing twist to traditional chess by minimizing opening theory and preparation, bringing creativity to the forefront of each match. X-Chess means thinking from the very first move. Whether you're new to chess or a seasoned player, X-Chess provides a unique challenge, blending strategy and skill in ways that promise to engage and surprise.
This Nationals event we will introducte a beautiful online experience, available for you to try! We can’t wait for you to experience the game’s dynamic pace and exciting possibilities firsthand.
We’re also thrilled to announce that the boxed edition and the tournament edition of X-Chess will be available for pre-order exclusively at Nationals. Secure your copy during the event, with deliveries expected in January. This is the perfect opportunity to see what X-Chess has to offer and take a step into a new dimension of chess strategy. We hope you’ll dive in and discover why X-Chess is creating such a buzz in the chess community!
Kyla's latest novel, May the Best Player Win, draws inspiration from her own experiences in the world of chess. Described as a family-friendly version of The Queen's Gambit, the book tackles real challenges faced by young players: battling gender stereotypes and overcoming performance anxiety. WGM Carissa Yip, the current US Women's Chess Champion, calls it "A game-changer for all ages, regardless of whether you play chess! From start to finish, this book will have you inspired to conquer your next match in life."
Kyla will join us to share more about her new novel and its universal themes that resonate with chess players and non-players alike. Visit her website at kylazhao.com to learn more.
Yours in Chess,
Paul Macdonald
CEO
Chess Power