The 131st New Zealand Chess Congress was held from 2-12th January at the Copthorne Hotel in Palmerston North.
The Congress consisted of five events:
- New Zealand Championship 2024
- Major Open
- New Zealand Blitz Championship
- New Zealand Rapid Championship
- New Zealand Junior and Age Group Championships
The main section, the New Zealand Championship 2024, gathered 50 participants. FM Nicolas Croad emerged clear first with 7.5/9 points to claim the title of the champion and qualify for the national team in the next World Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
New Zealand Championship 2024 final standings:
1. FM Croad Nicolas 2423 – 7.5
2. IM Middelburg Tom 2369 – 7.0
3-5. FM Hague Ben 2455, IM Renjith Sravan 2257 and IM Dive Russell J – 6.5
6-7. FM Steadman Michael V R 2275 and Fulo Nunilon III 2180 – 6.0
8-13. Steele Hayden 1678, Carpinter Anthony L 2174, CM Archer Ollie 2177, FM Smith Robert W 2303, FM Gong Daniel Hanwen 2411 and CM Zhang Kendrick Botong 2099 – 5.5 etc (50 players)
The Major Open featured 56 players. The 14-years old Dion A Wilson was a sole winner with 7.5/9 points, half a point clear from Alex Coates. Guest from England, GM Gawain Jones, crushed the field in the Rapid Championship, securing a perfect 9/9 score.
More information on the New Zealand Chess Federation facebook page
