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President’s Newsletter

NZCFadmin

Greetings Fellow Chess-players!

The New Year is well underway with nearly all Clubs re-opening and traditional Auckland Anniversary and Waitangi Day tournaments completed!

Congress at Palmerston North had an impressively large and strong entry and was well conducted by Organizer Mark Noble of Manawatu Knights C.C. and Chief Arbiter Ying Wang.

In an exciting new development, Grant Kerr, Trustee of the Middle Game Chess Foundation announced its first allocation of funds to support Junior players and the Olympiad.

Congratulations to:

  • FM Nicolas Croad (NZL) clear first in NZ Championship 7.5/9
  • Dion Wilson clear first in Major Open 7.5/9
  • GM Gawain Jones (ENG) NZ Open Rapid Champion 9/9
  • IM Russell Dive (NZL) NZ Rapid Champion 2024
  • GM Gawain Jones (ENG) and IM Renjith Sravan (NZL) Joint Open Lightning Champions
  • IM Renjith Sravan (NZL) NZ Lightning Champion 2024

I have personally apologized to Gawain as I incorrectly announced that he holds the title of NZ Rapid Champion. Gawain has Permanent Residence in NZ but does not qualify as ‘NZ player’ as he has not been resident in NZ for 12 months prior to the tournament.

NZCF Council sincerely apologizes to all, in particular the players involved.

The number and standard of Juniors continues to impress:

  • Kayden Loke clear first NZ Junior Championship 6.0/7

-Best Scoring Schoolpupil

-Best scoring Under 16

  • Luna Xu NZ Junior Girls Champion 4.5/7

-Under 12 Champion (tiebreak with Richard Liu)

  • Ryan Hwang Under 14 Champion (tiebreak with Tracy Tang)
  • Martin Zhou Under 10 Champion
  • Great Lau Under 8 Champion (tiebreak with Anne Guo)

Best wishes and good luck to all chess players, arbiters, trainers, administrators and funders!

Nigel Metge

NZCF President