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The 2019 Kapiti Rapid and KCC School Tournament

 Chess in Kapiti received a big boost in the weekend with the successful running of two annual competitions.

The 2019 annual Kapiti Rapid attracted 33 competitors, one of the biggest fields in recent years for this tournament, which first started 20 years ago. It was a relatively stronger field too this year, with an average rating over 1700, and seven players rated over 2000, including current New Zealand champions, IM’s Russell Dive and Anthony Ker, plus a former NZ champion, FM Scott Wastney.

But arguably the bigger feature of the day was the successful running of the inaugural Kapiti Chess Club’s Schools Championship. This tournament is aimed at promoting and supporting Junior Chess on the Kapiti Coast and surrounding regions, and developing our players for the future. The format provides a great opportunity for school kids to compete against other juniors, on a more even and fun basis than what might happen in the main event. It’s also a chance for local schools to claim some bragging rights. This year saw 19 juniors competing from 11 schools, including a team from Levin Intermediate.

While the two tournaments were separate, they were run side by side in the same room, making for a great atmosphere and a packed hall of 52 players, plus spectators – the biggest attendance for a Chess event on the Kapiti Coast in over a decade.

The tournaments were played over six rounds in a traditional rapid format of 25 minutes with 5 seconds added per move. While the Kapiti Rapid was played as a single tournament, prizes were awarded in three grades, Open, under 2000, and under 1600.

The two tournaments featured 11 Kapiti Club players, including 4 juniors playing the school tournament, and 7 playing the Kapiti Rapid. Big congratulations to club member Hamish Lester who took out the college division individual prize in the School tournament with an impressive 5 from 6. Congratulations also to Mark Summers who took out the bronze medal in the 11-12 age group. In the main event, congratulations too to club members Brandon Holman and Neels Du Plessis who took out a share of first place in the under 1600 grade.

Special thanks to chief tournament organiser and Club President Gordon Lyall for managing the planning and running of the day, and for directing the play for the School event. A special mention also to Club Captain David Paul for directing play for the main Rapid event, while also managing to play in it. Also to Lars Dobbertin-King for bringing a team down from Levin and helping look after the school competition.

Congratulations to the prize winners below, in particular to Kapiti College for taking out the School Championship.

To see photos of the day, click here.
To see some of the games played, click here.


FM Scott Wastney, Winner of the 2019 Kapiti Rapid with Club President Gordon Lyall, and Club Captain David Paul alongside.

Kapiti College, winner of the inaugural Kapiti Chess Club School Tournament: Tim Pringle, Noah Corbett, Blake Toloa Hewitt, Elliot Rennison with Jacob Wirangi (Teacher) holding the cup.

From left to right: Hamish Lester, winner of the college division; Zac Li and Ben Guo, winners of the 11-12 division;  Sravya Moparthi, winner of the under 11 division.

2019 Kapiti Rapid winners

First: FM Scott Wastney (5.5/6)
Second:Romie Guerra (5/6)
Third:IM Russell Dive, Brian Nijman (5/6)
Under 2000 grade:Bill Forster, Edward Tanoi, Michael Sole, Ryan Winter (5/6)
Under 1600 grade: Brandon Holman, Jacob Wirangi, Michael Ashe, Neels Du Plessis, Paul He (3/6)
Flora Paul Memorial Trophy (for best Kapiti Chess Club player):Guy Burns and David Paul

 


2019 Kapiti Chess Club School Championship winners

Individual Results

Age groupMedalNameScore (from 6)
13 and overGoldHamish Lester5
 Silver Nathan Price                    4
  Noah Corbett  4
  Blake Toloa Hewitt         4
  Tim Pringle                      4
11-12GoldZac Li                                 5
  Ben Guo                            5
 BronzeMark Summers3
Under 11GoldSravya Moparthi            3.5
 SilverRaymond Guo                3
  Marcus Chen                    3
 BronzeMax Wang2

School Team Results

FirstKapiti College13
SecondHutt Intermediate10
ThirdParaparaumu College9