In the Media

Chess is coming to the Zespri AIMS Games in 2027, with three days of team, individual and blitz competition for intermediate-aged students from across New Zealand.

Two budding young chess-playing Havelock North siblings wanted some new competition, so their mum's bringing a new junior tournament to Hawke's Bay.

After a two-year wait to compete in-person, over two hundred school students and their supporters participated at the Chess Power Team Nationals at Lynmore School, Rotorua over Labour weekend.

The Chess Power Champions Trophy events were held on Sunday 23rd October 2022, following the conclusion of the Teams Nationals the previous day. The onsite and online tournaments saw 178 and 93 competitors, respectively, taking to the chessboard.

This Saturday a group of Maraetai Beach School students will head to Alfriston College to pit their chess skills against Auckland’s best, when they take part in the Chess Power Nationals Finals Team Chess Championships 2020.

For the first time, three young Pasifika students will compete in the Australasian National Chess finals after winning gold at the NZ Power Team tournament.

Four South Canterbury schools competed in the chess tournament held at Avonhead School on Friday and Waihi's results were the best ever recorded by a South Canterbury school at the national tournament.

Hora Hora Primary School teacher Joseph Tobin said he was incredibly proud of his students heading to the National Chess Champs in Christchurch

Auckland Point School chess team have made it through to the school's first ever national competition; the Chess Power junior tournament in Christchurch.

Brainboxes follows six gifted Kiwi children not only so we can gawp at their pint-sized proficiencies but also so we can try to understand the pitfalls of both owning a brain the size of a planet and having to negotiate parenting these beautiful minds.

The number of kids attending chess club has gone from about 10 to 20. These guys had such success that they really deserve to be recognised.

Staff at Korowai Manaaki are always looking for relief valves to stop the kids from acting out. There are the usual staples of sport and music, but the Dark Knights chess club is an unlikely success story. The Dark Knights team recently attended the Chess Power Ngatea Zone regionals, performing very well. One of the players even managed to qualify for the National Champions Trophy, showing this kids are more than capable of competing with the best.

About 130 pupils from 15 schools throughout Southland took part in the Chess Power regional tournament organised for primary, intermediate and secondary schools. "We want to teach children that chess can be fun. It helps them develop, they learn how to check things and they get immediate feedback. It's really good watching them learn" - Bruce Pollard

Chess rewards focus and concentration and it opens the door for all kids to participate regardless of the background, gender, age, religion and regardless of the physical aptitude.

As the principal at Avalon School, he has encouraged the school's chess club and believes it is a game that has a range of educational benefits.

Last year, the decile two Lower Hutt school attended the nationals and came a creditable fifth.

John McGlashan College chess team members celebrate after winning the intermediate New Zealand chess power interschools national final. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Chess is taking off in a big way at Whangaparaoa School – a recent open day there attracted more than 50 students keen to learn from scratch, or improve their game.

Five schools gave their best at the Chess Power tournament at Morrinsville Intermediate recently.

Paeroa and Hauraki Plains colleges chess teams combined travelling arrangements to head to Nelson last weekend for the National Secondary Schools Chess Finals.

Board games, a wet school holiday afternoon and a hall packed with children usually result in chaos and noise.

But the main sounds at the Chess Power Nationals at Annesbrook Church were the slapping of the timer and the occasional sharp intake of breath.

The Hub was bursting with 59 enthusiastic chess players on the 27th of June. Players had arrived from Morrinsville Intermediate, Stanley Avenue, Paeroa College and Te Puru Primary along with Hauraki Plains College.