2022 Queensland Team Championship

For the first time in more than a decade, the Suncoast Chess Club brought a strong field of representation to the 2022 Queensland Team Championship. The tournament took place Saturday, November 27th and was a seven round battle between teams of six. The initial games were played at the 15+3 time control before things were ratcheted up a notch to 10+3 for the remaining four games. The event drew around 150 participants from various skill levels to include many titled players and even GM David Smerdon on top board.

A last minute entry, Buderim was still able to send a trio helmed by the sagacious Harry Hirst, an uncompromising Jordan Uscenski and ever nettlesome Nick Paetsch. To further complete the chess cadre, an intercostal alliance was formed with the razor-sharp Ronald Bourke and the swashbuckling Liam Healey of Mackay Chess Club. Finally, filling the sixth wildcard spot was the indomitable Kevin Zhou from King’s Christian College.

After a long day of battle, the team had battled such teams as “Morale”, “the Brisbane Blunders” and both “Bullwinkle 1 and 2”. “Sunny-Mackay” was able to win the “division A” prize with 27.5 points for the day. In the heat of battle, the notion of winning was not even on teams radar until the last round or so. The team format was a totally novel experience which gave everyone in the group a chance throughout the day to share their different perspectives, approaches and games. All said and done, it was a really great experience that everyone on the team enjoyed, and now of course, Suncoast club will need to defend the title next year!