The Mount Maunganui RSA Chess Club is marking two decades of its Bay of Plenty Rapid Chess Tournament with an event set for February 28. The one-day national-level competition expects around 50 players from the North Island, spanning schoolchildren to retirees. Organiser Caleb Wright highlights its role in innovating rapid chess in New Zealand.
The Bay of Plenty Rapid Chess Tournament, hosted by the Mount Maunganui RSA Chess Club, reaches its 20th edition on Saturday, February 28, at the Arataki Bible Chapel. Established as the first of its kind in New Zealand, the event introduced a pioneering time control two decades ago: a small bonus increment added at every move. This adjustment prevented games from ending solely due to time pressure, fostering fairer play and better sportsmanship.
"This tournament was the first of its kind in New Zealand," said Caleb Wright, the club's secretary and tournament organiser. "Twenty years ago, we introduced a new time control with a small bonus increment added at every move. It stopped games being decided simply by running an opponent out of time, and it changed rapid chess for the better."
Rapid chess features shorter time limits than standard play, enabling a full tournament in one day. Wright noted that the increment system minimised disputes and encouraged proper conclusions to games. "Once the increment was introduced, players were more likely to play games to a proper conclusion or resign when clearly lost," he explained. "Virtually every rapid chess tournament in New Zealand adopted the same time control, and it’s still used today."
The club, operational since 1999, is the sole New Zealand Chess Federation affiliate in the Western Bay of Plenty, drawing members from Ōmokoroa to Pāpāmoa. The annual event has run consistently since 2006, skipping only one year due to venue arson, and persisted through the Covid-19 pandemic. "It’s been an adventure on and off the chessboard, but reaching 20 years is something worth celebrating," Wright added.
Scheduled from 9am to about 5.30pm, the tournament includes six rounds and $1140 in prizes across two graded sections. Spectators may attend but must remain silent. Among the entrants is 11-year-old Tauranga player Tom Docker, who debuted last year. "I really liked it," Docker said. "Chess makes you use your brain to solve problems and recognise patterns. I’ve improved a lot, and I think I’ll do much better this time."
Wright views the tournament as an accessible entry to competitive chess, offering national-level experience without major travel. "It gives players a taste of what competitive chess is about," he said. Entries are available via phone, email, or online through the Mount Maunganui RSA.
