Isabelle Ning

(13) CHESS PLAYER

Isabelle Ning is a Kristin School pupil who’s passion is playing Chess. A sport that challenges the mind which is why she loves it.

Isabelle started playing chess when she was 6 years old and has been playing ever since. She says there was a chess set at the family homes and she was interested to learn how to play.

“When I started to enjoy Chess I decided to take group lessons. After only four months of playing I participated in the Auckland Girls Chess Champs, and to my surprise, I won the Under 8 group. After that, I was determined to be a good chess player because I loved the experience of my first ever tournament.”

Isabelle then started private lessons and got to travel to Brazil a year later for the World Cadets Chess Champs, her first International Chess tournament. She has since competed in Thailand, Albania, Sri Lanka, Australia, China and India.

Isabelle now has two coaches. New Zealand’s best coach, FM Ewen Green, and GM Dejan Bojkov, a Grandmaster from Bulgaria. The NZ Chess Federation has also chosen Isabelle to be coached (online) by some of the best coaches in the world.

Isabelle’s achievements include:- NZ Women Blitz Champion 2023; Oceania Women Blitz Runner up 2023; NZ Women’s Chess team 2020/2022; 2nd place in the NZ Rapid Chess Champs 2022; 2nd place in the NZ Women Chess Champs 2022; NZ School Girl Chess Champion 2020, 2021, 2022; Achieved the WCM (Women’s Candidate Master) title in 2021; NZ Junior Chess Champion 2020 (Under 20); 8th in Asian Youth Chess Champs 2019; Oceania U10 Girls Champion 2019.

Isabelle says her dream for Chess in the future is to become a Grandmaster. She says there are over a thousand GMs in the world but only 40 of them are female.

AIMES Scholarship funding will help Isabelle reach her stated Chess goals – paying for flights, accommodation, entry fees and coaching.

Isabelle Ning receives a North Harbour Club AIMES Scholarship Award, sponsored by Vantage Windows & Doors North Shore, and a cash grant of $3,000.