Author: Gordon Lyall

  • Oceania Youth Chess Championships 2026

    Oceania Youth Chess Championships 2026

    The Oceania Youth Chess Championships is the premier junior chess event for the region, bringing together the strongest young players from countries including New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and other Pacific nations.

    This year the Championships will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand from the 9th to the 13th of April 2026.

    Open to age groups U8–U18 (Open & Girls), this premier event offers international experience, FIDE-rated games, and a pathway toward the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships.

    If you’re aiming to take your chess to the next level — this is the tournament to target.

    Further information is avaiable from NZCF here.

  • James places at the Wellington Open

    James places at the Wellington Open

    With a $10,000 total prize fund, this year’s Wellington Open attracted a very strong field.

    Despite facing higher-rated opposition in five of his six games, James performed admirably to finish equal third in the Under 1450 category. His excellent victory in round 5 against a 1600+ rated opponent set up a tense final-round clash against another 1600+ player.

    The last game was fiercely contested, swinging back and forth, but ultimately went his opponent’s way. Despite the final-round loss, it was a strong overall performance in a highly competitive tournament.

    The Open Division was won by Candidate Master William Rui Liu from Auckland, who went unbeaten.

    Final Standings

    Open

    1st: CM William Rui Liu

    2nd =: FM Nicolas Croad, CM Cohen Young

    3rd = : CM Justin Zhide Wang, CM David Cilia Vincenti, Matthew Keith, Philli Park-Tamati, Patrick Cordue, Hugo Lawrence

    Best Junior: CM Justin Zhide Wang, Matthew Keith

    Best Veteran: Patrick Cordue

    Best Senior: IM Anthony Ker

    Best Female: WCM Luna Yuexiu Xu

    U1450

    1st =: Zachary He, Muhammad Mangera

    3rd=: Shashank Gavini, John Hao, James Patterson, Vrajesh Ravi

    U1650

    1st =: Hugo Lawrence

    2nd =: Elena Moshakova, Hugh Masters, Afique Nazeer, Plaso Kusay

    U1850

    1st=: Daniel Winsley, Karthik Sethuramalingam

    3rd=: Edgar Benitez, Wei Kai Chen, Robert Hurndell, Finn O’Brien, Jarrod O’Brien, Aristotle Santos, Toby Shannon, Gregory Familton

  • End of Term Team Event

    End of Term Team Event

    It was a raucous final night of Term 1 at the junior club, finishing with a fun and competitive team event. Six teams of five players battled it out over three rounds in a fast-paced competition.

    When the dust settled, Team Alekhine, captained by Isaiah, claimed first place with a perfect score of three wins. Team Capablanca finished second with two wins, rounding out a strong performance.

    Winners: Team Alekhine

    1. Isaiah
    2. Lachlan
    3. Ronan
    4. Alex C
    5. Hunter

    2nd Place: Team Capablanca

    1. Millar
    2. Josh
    3. Orlando
    4. Charlie
    5. Leon (Reserve: Tautua)

  • 32nd Kapiti Rapid

    32nd Kapiti Rapid

    The Kapiti Chess Club’s blue-ribbon event, the Kapiti Rapid, will be held on 23rd May 2026 at Paraparaumu College. The tournament features a 6-round Swiss format with a time control of 25 minutes plus 5 seconds per move, and will be FIDE rated.

    Open to players of all levels, the event offers a range of prize categories including Open/A Grade, B Grade, C Grade, Juniors, and Top Kapiti Player. Entry is $60, with free entry for titled players and Kapiti Chess Club Members.

    Players can register online here.

    Registered players: vega

    Format
    6-Round FIDE and NZCF Rated Swiss (25+5)

    Date
    23 May 2026

    Venue
    Paraparaumu College
    151 Mazengarb Road, Paraparaumu 5032

    Entry Fee $60
    Free entry for GMs, IMs, FMs, WGMs, WIMs, WFMs
    Prize fund $1,500

    Payment to Kapiti Chess Club, a/c # 06 0730 0064954 00. Include your “name” & “Rapid” as reference.  

    Prize Categories
    – Open / A Grade
    – B Grade
    – C Grade
    – Junior 12+
    – Junior u12
    – Top Kāpiti Player (Flora Paul Memorial Trophy)

    Contact
    If you require additional information or clarification, please contact:

    Gordon Lyall
    gordon@crazyhorsechess.co.nz
    ph: 029 905 8045

  • T1 Presentation

    T1 Presentation

    Presentation of medals for the first internal junior tournament of the year, the T1 Rapid, took place at the Club on Tuesday, 24th March 2026.

    Champions Division:
    1st Gold medal – Isaiah Heta
    2nd Silver Medal – Stanley Fitton
    3rd Bronze Medal – Millar Wakefield

    Challengers Division:
    1st Gold medal – Ronan McGrath
    2nd Silver Medal – Ryder Henderson
    3rd Bronze Medal – Orlando Liu

    Both events were very competitive, with 21 players registered in the Challengers Division and 14 players competing in the Champions grade.

    Congratulations to all.

  • Mana Junior Rapid

    Mana Junior Rapid

    The inaugural Mana Junior Rapid Chess Tournament, will be held at Mana College on 9th May 2026.

    The event is suitable for all playing levels, from new to chess to elite juniors. The event includes 4 playing divisions:

    Open: Under 20 as of 1/1/26, NZCF Rating 1200+
    (FIDE- and NZCF-rated)
    Senior: 13 years & over
    Intermediate: 11–12 years
    Junior: 10 years & under

    The format is a 6-round Swiss tournament with 15 minutes + 5 second time control.

    The event will be ideal preparation for the Wellington Interschool Championships in June!

    Entry fee is $30 and entry form can be accessed online here.

  • Wellington Easter Open 2026 – Big Prize Fund!

    Wellington Easter Open 2026 – Big Prize Fund!

    With a major prize fund, sure to attract top national players, and excellent playing conditions, this promises to be a standout event on the 2026 NZ chess calendar.

    ♟️ $9,775 Prize Fund
    6-Round FIDE & NZCF Rated Swiss (90+30)

    📅 Easter Weekend: April 3, 4 & 6 (No play Sunday)
    ⏰ Rounds at 9:30am & 2:30pm
    📍 Wellington Bridge Club, Thorndon

    • Single Open Tournament
    • Entry $60 | Juniors $40
    • Free entry for titled players (GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM, WFM)
    • Open to all players

    Enter using the online Entry Form.

    Kapiti Chess Club members receive 50% discounted on the entry fee.

  • Coaching Camp – 29 March 2026

    Coaching Camp – 29 March 2026

    Coaching Camp – 29 March 2026 (1:30–5:00pm, Zoom, 3.5 hours)

    Cost: $30 per player

    Designed especially for NZ players preparing for Oceania, this intensive 3.5-hour online training camp (via Zoom) is tailored for 1500–2000 rated competitors seeking to elevate their calculation strength and visualization accuracy.

    Participants will work through targeted drills to:

    • recognise tactical triggers
    • apply the CCTP method effectively
    • visualise complex lines with precision
    • accurately assess resulting positions

    The camp builds disciplined calculation habits, reduces common analytical errors, and strengthens overall competitive decision-making — with a strong emphasis on efficient time management under pressure.

  • T1 Rapid Results

    T1 Rapid Results

    In the Champions Division, Isaiah won his final four games to secure first place with 7/9. Stanley edged out Millar on tie-break to claim second, with both finishing on 6/9.

    In the Challengers Division, Ronan remained unbeaten across nine rounds to take first place with 7.5/9, ahead of Ryder in second on 6 points. It required a tie-break to decide third place, which went to Orlando ahead of Ryan, with both scoring 5.5.

    Congratulations to all players in what was a highly competitive event.

    Final standings:
    Champions
    Challengers

  • Stanley takes Series 1 of the Blitz Cup

    Stanley takes Series 1 of the Blitz Cup

    Stanley was unbeaten after 8 rounds to claim Series 1 of the Blitz Cup! With 6 wins and 2 draws, he finished on 7/8.

    Gordon was just half a point behind on 6.5/8, with Brendan close behind on 6/8.

    Congratulations to all the players for some fantastic games!

    Full results are available here.

  • King’s Knight Tournament

    King’s Knight Tournament

    Organized by Ronan, one of our Junior members, this new tournament is a fantastic initiative, and the Club is proud to support it!

    The 5-round event is open to juniors aged 5–15 years, with two categories: Beginners and Advanced. It’s a great opportunity for kids to enjoy competitive chess at their own level.

    Join us for a fun morning of chess!

    📅 Date: Saturday, 14th March 2026
    ⏰ Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
    📍 Location: LevinLife Church Hall, 131 Bledisloe St, Levin
    ✉ Contact: jaz.windsor@gmail.com

    Refreshments will be provided.

    You can register for the event here.

  • Wellington Freestyle Chess Championship

    Wellington Freestyle Chess Championship

    The Wellington Freestyle Chess Championship is a new event on the Wellington chess calendar, and the only freestyle chess event outside of Auckland.

    Freestyle Chess, also known as Fischer Random Chess and Chess960, is a variant of chess created by former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer. The starting position of the pieces on the back rank is randomized, with a few restrictions to ensure a balanced and interesting game. The idea of Chess960 is to reduce the advantage of memorized opening theory and encourage creative and strategic play.

    The event is 6 rounds of unrated Freestyle chess (25+5), and will be held at the Wellington Bridge Club on Saturday 21st March 2026. There will be a $960 Prize Fund!

    Entry Fees:

    Adult – $30
    Junior (Born in 2006 or later) – $20

    Kapiti Chess Club members receive a 50% discount.

    Enter using the online Entry Form.

  • Kingston Memorial – Round 2 Update

    Kingston Memorial – Round 2 Update

    There was an excellent turnout of 17 players for Round 2 of the Kingston Memorial — an outstanding result, especially with two regular members unavailable. Numbers were boosted by junior players Isaiah, Millar and George, who have stepped up to take part.

    The most intriguing matchup of the evening was Andy versus Isaiah. It proved to be a tense and closely fought contest, with the players eventually sharing the point.

    After two rounds, only David P and Stanley remain on full points.

    You can follow the results and view the provisional Round 3 draw here.

  • Junior Rapid Underway

    Junior Rapid Underway

    The first Junior Club competition of the year, the T1 Rapid, is now underway. The event is an 8-round Swiss tournament with a 10-minute time control.

    This year’s competition features two divisions:

    • Champions Division – 14 players
    • Challengers Division – 17 players

    Round 1 went largely to form, with no major upsets.

    The game of the evening featured a fine counter-attacking performance from Alex C, who finished his game with a well-executed checkmate.

    We look forward to some exciting battles in the rounds ahead as the tournament progresses.

    Follow the results at the links below:

    Champions

    Challengers

  • Junior Club Champs – Everything to Play For in the Final Round

    The penultimate round of the Junior Club Champs delivered some mighty battles across the boards.

    Champions Division:

    On board one, Isaiah – playing Black against Stanley – resourcefully defended an inferior endgame and ultimately claimed the full point in a tense time scramble. On board two, James (White) faced George in another closely fought endgame, with James successfully converting his pawn advantage. There were also strong wins for Jingwei, Ronan, and Josh.

    Heading into the final round, the race could not be tighter: Jingwei and Isaiah lead on 4.5/6, with James and Stanley close behind on 4/6.

    Challengers Division:

    Remarkably, every player with the Black pieces won their game this round! On the top boards, the leader Oscar M and Elia both secured important victories. Lachlan bounced back from last week’s loss with a solid win against the in-form Maxwell. There were also good wins for Noah and Ryder.

    With one round to go, Oscar M and Elia share the lead on 5/6, each having lost only once. Lachlan keeps his title hopes alive, sitting just behind on 4.5/6. In the chasing pack, Maxwell, Charlie, Ryan, Noah, and Ryder are all on 3 points.

    With everything still to play for, the final standings won’t be decided until the very last game is complete!


    Top to bottom: Stanley v Isaiah, George v James

  • First-ever Bledisloe Cup Match

    Kapiti Chess Club took part in their first-ever Bledisloe Cup match yesterday, facing off against Canterbury. The Bledisloe Cup, originally presented by the Governor-General in 1933, was traditionally contested by the major metropolitan clubs. Today, the event has embraced modern technology and now uses a hybrid format, leveraging online chess servers to make inter-regional matches possible.

    Despite a narrow loss for Kapiti, the match was a resounding success and thoroughly enjoyed by all involved. It marks an exciting milestone for the club and sets the stage for more inter-regional encounters in the future.

    The match result:

    Board B/W Kapiti Result Canterbury B/W
    1.1 ⚪ Gordon Lyall 0-1 Antony L Carpinter ⚫
    1.2 ⚫ Brendan Reedy 0-1 Richard J Dare ⚪
    1.3 ⚪ David Paul 0-1 Sriram Muthukumaran ⚫
    1.4 ⚫ Ross Jackson 1/2-1/2 Craig Hall ⚪
    1.5 ⚪ Chris Moses 1-0 Steven Hartwell ⚫
    1.6 ⚫
    Stanley Fitton
    		 1-0 Matt Alp ⚪
     
    Final score: Kapiti CC 2.5 – 3.5 Canterbury CC

    Many thanks to NZCF’s Richie Christie and Craig Hall for organising such an awesome event.

    We are already looking forward to our next Bledisloe Cup match, which we hope to announced soon.

  • Junior Club Champs set for an exciting finish

    With five rounds now complete in the Junior Club Championship, everything is set for an exciting finish over the final two rounds.

    Champions Division

    The big surprise of the night came on board one, where Stanley was unable to convert his initiative against Jingwei. After defending accurately for much of the game, Jingwei reached a balanced endgame – but a rare slip from Stanley allowed him to seize the opposition and convert the position for the only Black win of the evening.

    There were also impressive victories from Tal, Josh, and Orlando, the latter making a strong return in his first appearance since coming back from overseas.

    After five rounds, Stanley still leads on 4/5, but he is now closely pursued by Jingwei, George, and Isaiah, all on 3.5/5.

    Challengers Division

    On the top board, Elia edged out tournament leader Lachlan in a tense encounter. Oscar M, Ryan, and Charlie also recorded important wins to tighten the standings even further.

    With two rounds to go, the race could not be closer: Oscar M and Elia share the lead on 4/5, with Lachlan just behind on 3.5/5, and Maxwell, Charlie, and Ryan in the chasing pack on 3/5.

    Both divisions are poised for a thrilling conclusion—everything is still to play for!


    Stanley v Jinwei

  • Junior Rapid Decided

    In the Champions Division, Stanley had a strong showing, scoring 7 points from 8 games and dropping only one game to James in Round 4. The battle for the minor placings was extremely close, with three players finishing on 6 points. On tie-break, Jingwei claimed second place, while Isaiah secured third.

    Oscar M delivered a tremendous performance in the Challengers Division, effectively wrapping up the tournament with two rounds to spare. He finished on 7 points, losing only his final game to Ryder. Elia impressed with 6 points and just one loss, taking second place. Ryder had a strong second-half surge, winning his last four games to claim third.

    It’s clear the standard is improving across the board—everyone is competitive and scoring wins. We’re excited to see what unfolds at the Junior Club Championship in Term 4!

  • T3 Junior Rapid heats up

    With two rounds remaining in the Champions division, Stanley and James share the lead on 5/6, closely followed by Jingwei and Isaiah on 4 points. It’s shaping up to be a tight finish.

    In the Challengers division, Oscar M leads with a perfect 6/6 and a commanding two-point margin. Elia follows on 4 points, with Riki, Cassius, Oscar L, Ryder, Jordan, and Noah all on 3.5, battling for the minor placings.

  • Winter Cup Decided

    Ross won Series 2 of the Winter Cup unbeaten with 5/6, but David Paul secured the overall title by half a point ahead of Ross and Brendan. The event was decided in the final round, where Brendan, the leader going in, lost a complicated game. Congratulations to David on his strong performance. Final standings are available here.