STUDENTS from schools across the region threw down checkmates in the largest regional Sydney Academy of Chess competition on Tuesday.
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Primary and secondary students played seven rounds of individual Swiss competition with no knockouts.
The event was hosted by The Armidale School.
TAS chess coordinator Catherine Boydell said the game was a fantastic way to improve students’ problem-solving skills.
“You have to be able to think many steps ahead, it’s all about problem solving,” she said.
“That’s a skill you will need for the rest of your life in anything you undertake.
“The kids that are extremely good at chess have actually got so many moves memorised in their heads, that’s an amazing use of their memory.”
More than 200 students played at the event.
Each game lasted 15 minutes and students from all corners of the New England region played one another.
Some of the students from TAS have been playing chess since primary school.
“Our youngest today is in Year 2, he’s a fantastic little player,” Ms Boydell said.
Trophies will be awarded for the top scoring players and the top three placed schools in each heat, who will also qualify for the regional semi-finals, that will be held in Term 3.