World Chess Federation Women's Chess Master Vivian Smith may not play competitively anymore but her on-going service to the game has seen her made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The Mount Maunganui resident first played chess when her brother was given a set as a child but she did not take the game seriously until she was 27.
Since then the 61-year-old has represented New Zealand at 15 world chess olympiads, winning a bronze medal at the 1984 competition and earning the title of Candidate Master in 2005 and the Women's Master Title in 2008.
"I think I'm the only New Zealander that's ever got a medal at an olympiad. That was probably my biggest highlight," she told the Bay of Plenty Times.
Mrs Smith won her first New Zealand Championship in 1982, followed by a further nine championship wins and joint first placing at the 2007 New Zealand Seniors' Chess Championship.
"The great thing about chess is seeing the world over a chess board, I've been to places that I never dreamed of going Siberia. Crazy places."
The mother of three moved to Mount Maunganui with her husband, Bob, three years ago but still travels to Auckland to play with the West Auckland chess club, of which the couple are life members. She no longer plays competitively but remains a part of the chess scene.
"I've been working on trying to encourage more people to play. It's such an exciting game. It's a real adventure you never know what's going to happen."