MCK CHESS CLUB

McK CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 

The most prestigious chess tournament at McKinnon has begun. It will run from week 1 to week 6 of Term 3. 

To follow all the action, go to the championship website or come to B04 at the McKinnon Rd Campus during match time (check the website for details).

TERM 2 INTER-SCHOOL ZONAL QUALIFIER 

In the last week of Term 2, the McKinnon interschool chess squad traveled to Yarra Valley Grammar in Ringwood to participate in the Chess Victoria Secondary School Open Zonal tournament. 

The McKinnon team consisting of Steve Le (Year 12), Tim Nicolaides (Year 12), Jonathan Kui (Year 12), Howie Nguyen (Year 11), Aaron Todes (Year 10), Nathan Wen (Year 8), Alex Do (Year 10), Rohan Baker (Year 11), Ben Green (Year 12) and Luka Dodos (Year 9) played multiple rounds against many schools over a total five hours. 

The McKinnon team showed great skills and composure throughout the day, earning the same number of points as the eventual winner, and only missed out on the top prize by the smallest of tiebreak. In the end, the team took home the 2nd place trophy, which was the best ever finish by the McKinnon team at the zonal level. 

As a result, the McKinnon team has also qualified for the State Final. Well done to all members of the team.

Best individual performance include: 

• Howie Nguyen, Year11 (overall 8th place)
• Aaron Todes, Year 10 (overall 9th place)
• Nathan Wen, Year 8 (overall 11th place)
• Tim Nicolaides, Year 12 (overall 13th place)
• Steve Le, Year 12 (overall 18th place)
• Jonathan Kui, Year 12 (overall 19th place)

McK CHESS RATING & PLAYER TITLES 

All students who have played in any tournament organized by the McK Chess Club in the past will be in the McK Chess Rating database. Rating is used for competition seeding, school team’s selection, as well as determining player’s titles. As of 19 July 2024, the top 10 rated players at McKinnon are: 

1. Steve Le, Year 12 (1554)
2. Timothy Nicolaides, Year 12 (1503) 
3. Jonathan Kui, Year 12 (1462) 
4. Howie Nguyen, Year 11 (1377)
5. Aaron Todes, Year 10 (1350)
6. Nathan Wen, Year 8 (1267)
7. Alex Do, Year 10 (1262)
8. Stanley Luo, Year 10 (1172)
9. Rohan Baker, Year 11 (1168)
10. Ben Green, Year 12 (1166)

To see all the McK rated players: click here. 

Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded a new McK Chess Player title for their recent performance at the inter-school chess competition:

• Jonathan Kui, Year12 - King Class Player Title & badge
• Howie Nguyen, Year 11 - Queen Class Player Title & badge
• Aaron Todes, Year10 - Queen Class Player Title & badge
• Nathan Wen, Year8 - Rook Class Player Title & badge
• Alex Do, Year 10 - Rook Class Player Title & badge
• Rohan Baker, Year 11 - Pawn Class Player Title & badge

Sandy Law

McK Chess Club