When a classmate uttered "check-mate", the championship title was clinched. And with that the Te Puna School Mighty Knights huddled to carry out their victory dance - sort of a swooshing arm routine - celebrating the fact they are now the primary school champs of the Tauranga regional interschool chess competition. Theace team of Harry Redwood (number one), Thomas Bowhill (two), Jack Andrews (three) and Luke Hegarty (four) are buzzing at the opportunity to represent the region at the North Island Championships next month. The Bay of Plenty Times caught up with the youngsters following their big win - the second title for the school since the Mount Maunganui RSA-run competition began three years ago. The foursome agreed that the challenge was a tough road to victory. "It was neck and neck through the whole thing, except the first round when we completely blew it," Harry said. The boys practise chess in the school library at lunchtimes or outside with the oversized board and pieces and say the key is having a good strategy. "You need to think ahead, play three moves ahead. It may seem like a stupid move to your opponent but to you it's the most brilliant move in the world." And for Thomas, who learned the skills of the game through pure observation, the key to success is to keep learning from every game. The team is now aiming for "mega-practice" in the lead up to the regional competition to be held over two days in Palmerston North. The boys' chess teacher Amber Canuel said the game had attracted great interest across Te Puna School. "There was big pressure on them to play well, there were lots of people watching, it was nerve-racking. But the boys are chuffed, that's the main thing."
