Shoker wins chess tournament

Egyptian Grandmaster Samy Shoker has won the Bob Wade Memorial Masters chess tournament with a score of 7.5/9 in Howick.

The competition began last weekend and ended on Friday.

Organiser and vice president of the New Zealand Chess Federation Paul Spiller, of the Howick Pakuranga Chess Club, said Shoker recorded seven wins, one draw (with runner-up Grandmaster Elshan Moradiabadi) and one loss to NZ FIDE master Ben Hague.

GM Moradiabadi had five wins and four draws to finish second on 7 points.

In third place we’re International Master Gary Lane from Australia who won the Asian Seniors 50+ division in Auckland last heart attack by looking at family history, blood pressure, height, weight and blood tests. h Any questions, please email Parvin Kapila at parvink@easthealth. co.nz. h Howick Market Place, Picton Street, Saturday, February 11, 9am-2pm.

October and 14-year-old New Zealand Chess star Felix Xie.

For most of the tournament Xie was on course to make his first qualification towards his IM title (7 points was needed ), but a loss in the penultimate round to GM Shoker dashed his hopes.

The tournament was held at the new Howick EHPC [E-Sports High Performance Centre] at the Picton Centre.

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Built in 1914, the beautiful Tyrone Villa was purchased by Davis Funerals in 1979 and has served the community ever since. It has most recently been renovated in 2022. The chapel is a beautifully modernised room, that still retains the charm of this historic villa. Davis Pakuranga have been trusted to care for families for over 43 years because with empathy, expertise and respect, they help you to curate personalised goodbyes that build meaning and lasting memories from grief.