chess is back | august 2023

The Kerikeri Chess Club, in collaboration with the community group Our Kerikeri, successfully hosted the inaugural large-scale Northland Chess Championship in Kerikeri last year, attracting approximately 130 players from across Tai Tokerau, including a significant number of junior players (12 and under), as well as several smaller schools and kura from the Far North. This marked the first time such an event had been organized in Northland, with open access for all, regardless of age or skill level.

We are pleased to announce the tournament is back again this year and will be held on Saturday 28 October 2023 in Kerikeri with the kind support from our main sponsors Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board and Foundation North as well as the Turner Centre.

Our vision is to create a fun, inclusive, and family-friendly event that not only attracts locals, but players from across Northland. We currently have active chess clubs in Whangarei and Mangawhai, Kerikeri and Kaikohe, and Kaitaia. The purpose of an annual event is also to motivate new and existing chess players to help ensure that these local clubs are successful throughout the year.

The tournament also provides an opportunity for the wider community to come together, socialize, and engage in a healthy and educational activity. We have players from 6 years old to +80 years old, coming from all walks of life, and it’s wonderful to see how a simple board game can bring people together, create motivation and confidence, and provide a unique tournament experience for both players and visitors.

We currently have around 100 registered players for this year’s tournament! We do have a maximum capacity of 150 players at the event so if you are keen sign up as soon as possible to secure your seat at the table!

You can register from this website  https://sites.google.com/view/kerikerichessclub