Report

An Australian first - 1004 players participated - the highest number of chess players in one event at one place at one time in Australian chess history.

We started the day with 1012 enrolments, but by the time registrations were complete, and the inevitable sicknesses reported, we were down to 997! But our knight in shining armour, Margo Amundsen, came to our rescue and organised another four students from Worongary - 1001! Many thanks Margo and Worongary. However, after undergoing a final recount after the chess finished, we discovered that we in fact had 1004 participants. A very big thank you to the squads of school chess coordinators, teachers and parents who helped to make this a very special day for the young chess players!

Somerset College primary students have retained their title, with a score of 22.5/24 in Championship Grade, followed by Kings on 16.5, All Saints on 14.5 and Somerset College No 2 also on 14.5.

Board prizes in this grade were won by 1. Kelvin Finke 2. Kantley Wu 3. Pattama Songkhunawej 4. Danielle Kinder. There were 48 players in Championship Grade. The top four teams in this grade will represent the Gold Coast at the state finals to be held at Brisbane Grammar School on the weekend of 14/15 October.

A summary of other results:

A grade:

Teams: 1st Surfers Paradise, 2nd Somerset College, 3rd Guardian Angels
Individual: Gene Nakauchi and Alex Stahnke 6.5, Zane Luke 6.
Total of 109 players.

B grade:

Teams: Elanora,
Individual: Mark Borg 7/7
Total of 96 players.

C grade:

Teams: Somerset College,
Individual: Michael Hodge 6.5
Total of 104 players.

D grade:

Teams: Somerset College,
Individual: Jake Hobbs 7
Total of 100 players.

E grade:

Teams: Emmanuel College,
Individual: Brad Murray 6.5
Total of 103 players.

F grade:

Teams: Somerset College,
Individual: Riley Glover 7
Total of 130 players.

G grade:

Teams: Varsity College (with Ingleside 2nd),
Individual: Mustafa Ripikoi 7
Total of 121 players.

H grade:

Teams Ingleside,
Individual Cody Yakimoff 7
Total of 113 players.

I grade:

Teams Somerset College,
Individual Max Jeanneret 6.5
Total of 80 players.