Our GS Croakee’s Checkmates made all the right moves at the recent Chess Tournament, proving that brains and bravery go hand in hand!

Eight tamariki proudly represented our school – two in the Rookies division and six in the Juniors. And here’s the checkmate moment… every single one of them placed in the top 10!

The day was full of winning moves and well-earned prizes:

• 🏆 Rookie Division: One player took home a Distinction certificate and the title of Rookie Champion! Another earned Excellence, finishing second in the division.

• 🏆 Junior Division: All six Juniors received Distinction. The top four Juniors also claimed first place in the Team Division with their combined scores. One superstar even came second overall in the Junior Division.

And it wasn’t just trophies – there were some seriously cool badges for special achievements:

• Pawn Power – Checkmate with a pawn.

• The Picket Fence – Winning all 7 out of 7 games.

• Knock Out – A win in under 10 moves (and in one case… just 10 seconds!).

• Usain Bolt – Winning a game in under 30 seconds.

It was a day filled with our 4Cs – Courage, Caring, Courtesy, and Cooperation. Our players returned to school beaming, and their classmates gave them a rousing welcome with claps and cheers.

From rookies to rapid-fire checkmates, GS Croakee’s Checkmates proved that when you combine skill, teamwork, and a little bit of chess magic, anything is possible.

Ka mau te wehi, team – you’ve made us all super proud!

Article added: Friday 05 September 2025