National finals beckon for schools chess champs

Aleks Hachikyan of Mount Maunganui Primary contemplates her next move in the Bay of Plenty Interschools Chess tournament.

Top chess exponents from three Bay of Plenty schools have booked an engagement at the national finals following the regional interschool qualifying tournament.

The event, organised by Mount Maunganui RSA Chess Club with help from Tauranga RSA Chess Club and staged at ACG School in Pyes Pa, attracted 168 students at primary, intermediate and secondary levels.

Schools from as far afield as the Eastern Bay to the Coromandel Peninsular were in town to compete.

The winning schools in each division go on to represent the Bay in the national finals, this year being staged in Mt Maunganui.

The future of the game in Rotorua looks strong with the city's Lynmore School taking out the top two positions in the primary division. Their A team claimed top spot with 22 points, closely followed by the B team with 19.5. Tauranga Primary finished third with 18 points.

Tauranga Intermediate took their division, narrowly beating Mt Maunganui Intermediate by 20 to 18.5.

Bethlehem College's A team were more dominant in the secondary category, finishing with 20 points, well ahead of Rotorua's John Paul College on 15.5.

Event Organiser Caleb Wright says staging the event is part of the Mount RSA Chess Club's commitment to cater for players of all ages and walks of life.

"Chess is a good mental activity which improves discipline,” he says, 'so the kids that participate find it exciting putting hard work into practice.”

Primary School winner: Lynmore Primary A (Rotorua)

Intermediate School winner: Tauranga Intermediate

Secondary School winner: Bethlehem College

National Interschools Finals: Mt Maunganui College, September 29-30.

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