Our Sancta Maria College chess club recently competed in a Chess Power cluster tournament at Somerville intermediate. We competed in both divisions, senior and intermediate, returning with successful results for both.
The tournament was a seven round Swiss, with fifteen minutes allocated for each player per round. There was a total of 45 competitors in the senior division (Year 9 -13), and 31 in the intermediates, so it was a brutal and intense fight for first. Every win was worth one point, a draw was half a point, and a loss was none. This meant every check, capture and move was critical towards the end result; and a single mistake could signal the difference between losing and winning.
Our senior team finished the tournament with a very commendable second place overall, qualifying for regionals with a whopping total of 17 points. Top players were: Aaron Santoso (5/7 – 4th overall), Luke Do (4/7), Phuong Do (4/7), Jonathan Brzozowski (4/7), Si Yuan Cheng (4/7) and Alexan Oraha (4/7). Some of the winning senior team, representing the school in the regional finals, is pictured above.
A well done to our intermediate team who also fought hard, but unfortunately didn’t qualify. Top players were: Inez Robinson (4/7), Nicholas Jackson-Potter (3.5/7), Michael Banks (3.5/7), Savion Hanna (3/7), Owen Chan (3/7), Richia Gamboa (3/7), and Xian Omambac (3/7).
A big thanks to Mr Schollum who organised this trip, and all the parents who helped supervise the day. We also congratulate all the students who participated and represented our school in this event and wish the best of luck to our senior team as they prepare for the regionals in July.
