ACG Tauranga hosts regional chess comp

Up to 80 students competed on each of the three days of the Bay Of Plenty Chess Championships, hosted by ACG Tauranga in our Sports Complex last week.

Around 17 teams competed each day. ACG teams participated in each of the Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Tournaments, placing 3^rd, 3^rd and 5^th respectively.

Ethan Peng, in Year 5, has been playing chess for four years alongside other activities including swimming, Chinese class, jujitsu and basketball.

He likes how the game involves planning what’s going to happen next and said he enjoyed how quiet the tournament was. “You could only hear the clocks.”

Ollie Bassett, in Year 12, enjoyed outwitting his opponent, and the logical thinking the game requires. He “played lots of chess” to prepare for the tournament.

Organiser NZ Chess Federation described ACG Tauranga as an outstanding venue for the tournament and rebooked for next year.

Many of the participants are part of ACG Tauranga Chess Club, started by Year 3 and 4 teacher Dave Hanna at the beginning of 2017.

The club has slowly built momentum over the last 12 months to now host 30 students playing chess on a Wednesday lunchtime.

A key factor in the club’s growth has been the enthusiasm of Year 11 and 12 boys.

“Every day a number of them are outside playing chess at lunchtime and that has set a positive example to the other students in terms of it being a cool lunchtime activity,” Mr Hanna said.

Well done to all involved!