Hamilton Chess Club

You can read about it here

Autumn (3) is underway with 28 players. Rounds 4 5 6 next week

Having become victims of our own success unfortunately the club is not able to accept new junior members or prospective members for the next several months at least. We can only accommodate 32 players on club nights and have recently been at or near this limit. We don’t want to have players turn up to miss out on games due to physical capacity, and priority must be given to existing membership.

We are still keen to try and expand the adult membership base, so new adult (> 18 years) players are invited to come along and if numbers permit will be able to participate in games. HBHS pupils remain welcome to join also.

If attendance declines we will once again open to new junior members, so continue to check back on the website.

Club ratings have been updated to include Autumn (2). Several players show gains exceeding 30 rating points in their last 15 games, and one player has improved by more than 100 points

Autumn (2) ended in a three way tie for first place. Autumn (3) begins next week.

The club welcomes Tioti as its newest member. Tioti is a valuable addition to the club having previously served as the Vice President and Rating Officer of the Kiribati Chess Federation.

The club welcomes Cal as its newest member

Felix, the clubs youngest player, has entered number 2 spot on updated club ratings and enters the exclusive over 1600 echelon.

Having become victims of our own success unfortunately the club is not able to accept new junior members or prospective members for the next several months at least. We can only accommodate 32 players on club nights and have recently been at or near this limit. We don’t want to have players turn up to miss out on games due to physical capacity, and priority must be given to existing membership.

We are still keen to try and expand the adult membership base, so new adult (> 18 years) players are invited to come along and if numbers permit will be able to participate in games. HBHS pupils remain welcome to join also.

If attendance declines we will once again open to new junior members, so continue to check back on the website.

Thirty three players in attendance last night! Crosstable is below. Rounds 4 5 6  next week.

A message from Craig Hall of Canterbury Chess Club reads:

Canterbury Chess Club, on behalf of the New Zealand Chess Federation, Oceania Chess Confederation, and FIDE, invite players from all Oceania National Chess Federations and associated members to participate in the 2027 Oceania Zonal Chess Championships to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand from the 22^nd to the 27^th of January 2027. There will be an Open and Women’s Zonal along with a Blitz championship. Direct titles will be available (entries permitting). The Organiser is AO IA Craig Hall. More information including the entry link is available on the official website. Registrations open on 1 May and close when full (160 general entries in the Open i.e. official places are additional, no limit in the Women’s Zonal) or otherwise on 15 January.

For players that are looking for some OTB Chess with club members outside of club nights here are links to  WhatsApp and Messenger groups that you can use to find willing opponents:

Club ratings have been updated to include Autumn (1). You can see a graph of how your rating has changed over time here 

Three players finished on 5 points. Using Direct Encounter as first tie break puts Graham in top spot. Crosstable below. Autumn (2) starts next week.

The club welcomes Charlie as its newest member.

An impressive turnout of 29 players for Autumn (1). Crosstable at round 3 below. Rounds 4 5 6 next week.

Club nights resume April 21 after the school holidays

Nathan is Club Champ for 2026, finishing on a 5.5 out of 6. Honourable mention to William a close second on 5.0. Honourable mention also to the clubs newest and youngest member Felix who managed a score of 4.5 even though he missed the first round

Club ratings have been updated to include the Club Open Champs 

Club Champs at round 5. Final round next week.