TNT Hosting Taupō Regional Chess Tournament – 12th June
The school chess club — who regularly meet during Monday lunchtimes in D14 — are super excited that Taupō-nui-a-Tia College is hosting the first regional tournament of the year.
The regional tournaments offer a fun, safe, educational, and socially inclusive environment, designed for both new and experienced players alike. Up to 100 students are expected to attend from schools around the region, with some travelling from as far as Rotorua.
Chess Power runs the tournament, which features players competing in different divisions in a 7-round Swiss format. Each competitor plays seven 15-minute games. There are opportunities to win Chess Power Badges, which recognize and reward achievements in chess.
Last year, at the regional tournament hosted by Waipahihi School, Simon Howden-Rogers (11Ru1) earned the Pawn Power Badge for a clever checkmate using a pawn.
Winning schools qualify for the Chess Power Onsite Team Nationals or the Chess Power Online Team Nationals, while the top three individual players and top three girls qualify for the Chess Power Onsite Champions Trophy or the Chess Power Online Champions Trophy.
Last year, Riley Parker-Ord (12Ru2) earned an impressive 5 wins out of 7 games, securing his place at the National Champions Trophy competition in Wellington. Riley’s enthusiasm for chess shows no bounds — he actively recruits new members to the chess club, has created an online club for players (https://www.chess.com/club/taupo-nui-a-tia-chess-club) which currently boasts 27 members, has generously donated chess timers to the club, and is developing a chess engine for his NCEA Digital Technologies class to help players improve their skills.
Riley has one message for you, Taupō-nui-a-Tia:“Think you’ve got what it takes? Show some wero and join us!”
