Kapiti Chess Club - Promoting The Art Of Chess
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History

The Club would love to hear from anyone who can contribute to this page on the history of chess in Kāpiti. You can contact us here.
 
A forerunner to today’s Kāpiti Chess Club is known to have existed in the 1970’s with records of two novel “2 in 3” open tournaments organised by the Club in 1976 and 1977. 
 
The beginnings of the current Kāpiti Chess Club first met 5 June 1984 at Glenys Mills’ Waikanae home and consisted of Glenys, Leo Eichholtz, Bill Pirie, Alvaro Lacunza and Tom Powell. On 3 July they shifted to the Waikanae Plunket rooms, then briefly to the Raumati South Tennis Club rooms before meeting in Bill Pirie’s garage in Raumati South.
 
The Club was established formally in November 1987, and was listed in the New Zealand Chess Federation Club Directory from 1988. Bill Cox was Club President, Leo Eichholtz was Secretary-Treasurer, and Alvaro Lacunza was Captain. In early 1988, the Club moved to Kāpiti College at Raumati Beach, where it met for the next 7 years.
 
In 1990 the Club became an Incorporated Society, with a formal constitution. It remained an Incorporated Society until 2006. 
 
In 1991 the first open Kāpiti Rapid Tournament was held. A history of the annual Kāpiti Rapid tournament can be found here
 
In 1995 the Club moved to the Salvation Army Hall in Bluegum Road Paraparaumu Beach, where it met for the next 15 years. On 03 January 2010 the Club moved to Paraparaumu Library in Ngahina St, Paraparaumu, where it met for the next 9 years, before moving back to the Salvation Army Hall at the beginning of 2019.
 
Past Club results and tournament winners.
Past Club Presidents, Secretaries, Captains and Treasurers back to 1987.
The 10+ Club: Members for 10 or more years
 
A history of the Club through website news posts

2022  2021  2020  2019  2018  2017  2016  2015  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010  2009 

 
A history of the Club through photos and news clippings
Before 2000    2000-2009    From 2010