12 Sep 2019
There have been three chess events over the last few weeks - Mr Bon has been super busy working with our students and they have been achieving great things!
NSWJCL Country Secondary Schools Teams Chess Knockout - R5
Last Monday afternoon our top 4 student Chess representatives contested the 5th round of the NSWJCL Country Secondary Schools Teams Chess Knockout competition. We were drawn to host Belmont Christian College and the match proved a very tight affair whilst being played in very good spirit.
The first game fell to us in a rather crushing win by Kian Meijnen on Board 4. Kian was not feeling one hundred percent on the day and came in especially around lunch so as not to let the team down - he certainly didn't! A beautiful discovered check on the opposition King whilst exposing a direct attack on their Queen at the same time sealed the fate of the game - HSPA up 1-0.
Connor McKay played a very solid game ensuring no great risks were taken when he managed to construct a one piece advantage early in the game - but there was plenty of play and work left to be done to secure the point.
Oskar Sutherland, who has been playing very well, stumbled early, losing his Queen for two minor pieces. He fought on doggedly and was able to create some threats - but a nasty pin on a key Rook made survival very difficult. He struggled on.
In the meantime Simon Gordon on Board 1 had reached a bit of a deadlock on the board, although I thought his opponent had slightly the better position. Draws had been proposed by both players to be declined after a quick check of their team-mates results/positions. Eventually, a draw was settled on - which I thought was an excellent result for Simon and our HSPA team. We were looking like losing on Oskar's Board 2 - but with a win by Connor on board 3 we would win the tie. Indeed that's the way it played out and HSPA were victors in a 2.5 - 1.5 close win. Onward to Round 6!
Congratulations to the whole team - it was a tough match-up. We wish the team from Belmont all the very best and look forward to seeing them at one of the Tournaments next year maybe (perhaps the one we host annually in May here at our school (in our wonderful new Gym/Hall space).
2019 NSW Chess Challenge - Semi-Finals
We played our top four HSPA Chess representatives in the Semi-Finals of the 2019 NSW Chess Challenge at Callaghan College Wallsend Campus.
Overall achievement across the team was a little under our very best - I'm sure the boys would agree - but with the mix of some players not feeling one hundred percent on the day and the impact on confidence a couple of early losses had - and some credit to tougher opposition too it must be said - we fell but a single point short of qualifying in 3rd spot and assuring a berth at the Finals in Sydney later this term.
There was however a particularly bright moment for our star and standout representative. Connor McKay Yr9 (the youngest of the four boys) who played an exceptionally good tournament, conquering over some very highly rated players over the course of the day. He was able to finish on a fantastic score of 6/7 with two other players - and on a count-back tie-breaking system was declared to be the overall individual Tournament winner! Excellent work Connor, congratulations on an awesome personal best performance - you thoroughly deserved your 1st place trophy. Congratulations to all four boys for rallying in tough times and giving our HSPA community great cause for much pride in their achievements for our school over many tournaments over many years.
The team and I would like to mention how much we truly appreciate all the support and help we get along the way from all quarters of our HSPA community - Thank You All!
NSW Girls Chess Challenge
On Thursday 22nd August a small but eager team of HSPA girls made our annual pilgrimage to Strathfield in Sydney for this year's NSW Girls Chess Challenge.
The six girls represented two teams of three - one playing in the Junior Division and the other in the Open division. The Junior division encompasses Yr7 and Yr8 students, whilst the Open grade may include anybody - usually Yr9s up to Yr12s. The 3 players in each team play in order of relative strength form Board 1 to Board 2 and then Board 3. This year we had a very exciting debut being made by the youngest HSPA girl ever to represent us in this tough tournament - Iris Sutherland - and whilst she is only in Yr3, she was faced with the very daunting task of playing Board 3 in the Open grade!
The train ride to Strathfield provides a rare block of time to go through some moves, strategies and tactics - so we made good use of Mr Bon's old travel sized magnetic chess board to this end. It seemed to shorten the trip - as before we knew it we had arrived at Strathfield Station (a 3min walk to the venue). The short amount of spare time after registrations were completed gave us another opportunity for some practice matches before the start of Round 1 (of 5). A mix of excitement, trepidation and anticipation set in - and for the girls too! :)
The day's 5 rounds produced some unexpected but wonderfully positive results for our still relatively inexperienced teams. By the end the day not one of our girls had failed to record at least one win or better! Beth Sneddon was our top performer on Board 1 of the Junior team. Having lost the first round to an U/13 Champion from Queenwood School for Girls who won the division - Beth remained undefeated for the remainder of the day! - recording an excellent personal best of 2.5/5. Tess Brumfield was not far behind with 2/5, another wonderful result in tough competition. Sienna McHugh's last round victory had her smiling again after 4 difficult rounds (a great pay-off for fight and persistence Sienna, well done!) Thus a respectable 5.5/15 overall total.
In the Open division though, where all three girls (Jasmin McHugh, Layla Malone and Iris Sutherland) finished on equal points - for an admirable team total of 4.5/15 - the most sensational result was Iris (Yr3) - who had lost her first three games - picking up a magnificent 1.5/5 score by the end, on debut 3 divisions above where she would otherwise play - but no other Primary girls could make it on this occasion - maybe next year?
Congratulations to all six girls who were a pleasure to take away and also to the parents and grandparent who travel the distances and wake at very early hours to make it all possible - Thank You All!
Mr Bon!