In the Media

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.

One event which has a highlight for a number of students this past week was the Chess competition. We were delighted to win the overall competition.

Winning a chess game isn't as black and white as it may seem. That's how Dargaville Intermediate students managed to bring home silver medals from the Northland Zone Chess Tournament at Whangarei Boys' High School

When it comes to chess, 10-year-old Devon Gamble, of Dunedin, is proving to be king.

Devon was taught the game six months ago and surprised everyone, including herself, when she won two gold medals at Chess Power's interschool championship in Dunedin this week.

Rodney Times - Riverhead may be home to a group of Chess prodigies, judging by their students' results at an interschool chess tournament.

The Helensville Community News - In their very first year of both learning the game and competing, Helensville Primary School Chess Club qualified for the 2010 National Chess Competition.

Rodney Times - Helensville Primary School "can stand tall" with its fourth place in the primary school division at a national chess tournament.

Norwest News - Strategic moves have come up trumps for the Helensville Primary School Chess Club. In just their first year of both learning the game and competing, the club qualified for the 2010 National Chess Competition.

Rodney Times - Helensville and Parakai schools will compete in a national chess competition after winning an interschool tournament at Waioneke School.

Hibiscus Coast Matters - Orewa Primary School students are working hard on their game plan for an upcoming chess tournament.

As pawns and knights negotiate the board, norwest children are also learning life skills. Since the beginning of the year, Paul Macdonald has been coaching chess to youngsters in the district.