CGS GIRLS CHESS TEAM COMPETES NATIONALLY

– David Messina, Head of Blaxland House and Chess Coordinator

In December, the CGS Girls Chess Team made history, representing the ACT and Canberra Grammar School in the Australian School Teams Chess Championship in Perth. This marked a significant milestone for CGS, achieving the goal of having a girls' team compete at this prestigious event since the School's transition to co-education.

Team members Michaella Mackintosh (Year 10), Aneka Singh (Year 9), Hannah Ni (Year 9), and Flora Dong (Year 11), accompanied by Ms Lauren Hargreaves and Chess Coordinator Mr David Messina, faced top teams from across Australia. Competing at Sorrento Beach, the girls demonstrated exceptional teamwork and resilience in a field noted for its highly rated players.

Reflecting on the event, Mr Messina shared, ‘Ms Hargreaves and I were incredibly impressed by the girls' performances, particularly against some of Australia's strongest players. They dominated many games and showed tremendous potential to excel in future competitions.’

The tournament tested their skills while offering opportunities to connect with like-minded peers. As Aneka noted, ‘It was very intense on the brain. It was fun and challenging. I liked learning new openings, especially the Grand Prix.’

The team placed 4th nationally—an incredible achievement for their first appearance. Michaella, who played on Board 1, said, ‘It was tough playing against the top girls in Australia. I learned a lot and was proud of how I played.’

Flora reflected on her highlight: ‘My best moment was finding a forced mate in six moves after sacrificing the bishop—it was the best game of my life!’

Beyond the competition, the team enjoyed exploring Perth. ‘It was an amazing experience to play in such a high-level competition. I also loved walking along Sorrento Beach after the games,’ shared Hannah.

The trip concluded with a celebratory evening watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean—a perfect end to an unforgettable journey.

Congratulations to the CGS Girls Chess Team for this outstanding achievement. Special thanks to Ms Hargreaves and the parents for their support. The future of chess at CGS is bright—bring on 2025!