ICCES Chess Competition

On Tuesday the 26 July, 12 members of the Girton Chess Club travelled to Bacchus Marsh Grammar School to compete in the ICCES Chess Competition. This was a much-anticipated event for the Girton Chess Team as our last competition occurred in 2019. Unlike previous years, this year’s team was quite inexperienced, out of the 12 players only two previously had played in a chess competition. This tournament required all players to play seven games within their age division of Juniors (Years 7 & 8), Intermediates (Years 9 & 10), or Seniors (Years 11 & 12). Though inexperienced, the team managed to rank 3rd out of the 6 schools that participated behind Goulbourn Valley Grammar School and Bacchus Marsh Grammar School. 

The Junior Team composed of Ashan Dhanapala (8 Riley), Michael Scanlon (7 Milward), Hunter Scholes (8 Milward) and Ashton Cunning (8 Jones). They had a successful day, and the junior team ranked 3rd in the age group. All four players from the Junior team ended up in the top 15 junior players which was a very respectable result as for all of them it was their first competition. 

The Intermediate Team were the most successful Girton team as they ranked 1st place within their division. The Intermediate Team comprised Rory Clarke (8 Jones), Vivek Vattakatuchery (8 Riley), Alvin Chen (7 Milward) and Darcy Steele (8 Milward). All four players had a successful day competing against players that were older. Rory and Vivek are especially commended for coming 2nd and 3rd respectively in the division whilst only losing to a player from Bacchus Marsh Grammar School who won all of his games. Alvin also ranked in the top 10 in the intermediates being 8th whilst Darcy was 12th though he was in a four-way tie for ninth place.

The Senior Team also had a successful competition ranking 3rd in their division. Cian Westwood (12 Milward), Jinuka Wickrama (11 Frew), Hamish Pollock (11 Milward) and Massimo Morris (11 Milward) formed the Senior Team. Cian and Jinuka were the only players from Girton to have been in a chess tournament previously and they both ranked 7th and 10th respectively. Hamish and Massimo had a respectable performance with them both coming 18th and 19th respectively. Both these players are new to chess and had to substitute for other players who were ill. 

Mrs Kristenson is thanked for the support she has provided this year and the organising she had to do to ensure this event was successful. The Girton Chess Club is very pleased with this performance and we are all looking forward to similar successes at our next competition later on during the term. 

Jinuka Wickrama (11 Frew)

Captain of Chess