Four of our Kenwick Year 6 students proudly represented Rehoboth at the IPSHA Primary School Chess Competition, demonstrating skill, perseverance and excellent sportsmanship throughout a highly competitive day of play. With strong individual performances, a place among the leading teams for much of the tournament and valuable lessons learned along the way, the event was a memorable and rewarding experience for all involved.
On Wednesday 24 June 2026, four of our talented Kenwick Year 6 students proudly represented our school at the IPSHA Primary School Chess Competition, held at Guildford Grammar School, with matches played overlooking the beautiful ovals.
The tournament featured 13 schools competing across an impressive setup of 26 boards (13 tables), with a total of 51 players taking part. The atmosphere was exciting and competitive from the very first round. Each game the players were given 5 minutes on their clocks to play.
Our team made an excellent start and continued to improve as the day progressed. After 8 rounds, they were in the top three teams and had already secured 21 points, showing great consistency and teamwork. Heading into the final stages, the competition was fierce, and unfortunately, we bowed out of the top 4 finals in the last two rounds.
Individual Achievements & Reflections (out of 51 players)
All four students represented our school with pride and enthusiasm with the following results and comments coming from the players:
- Rupert Creelman – 6th place
“It was really fun. I had a 5-win streak.” - Luke van Vuuren – 13th place
“It was a wonderful day and a great experience. We all figured out we have to play as fast as Rupert!” - Samuel – 15th place
“It was fun. Some players were too hard!” - Thomas – 18th place
“It was a great experience. I learnt that you have to balance tactic and time!”
A Day to Remember
This competition was not only about results but also about learning, sportsmanship, and enjoying the challenge of chess. Our students showed fantastic determination and growth throughout the day, gaining valuable experience while having plenty of fun.
A huge thankyou to Luke’s dad, Gerhard van Vuuren, for being our parent volunteer and supporting on the day. The boys were begging Mr Taylor to organise another event soon.
We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the Christlike manner in which they represented our school. The boys were jubilant in victory and gallant in defeat! Well done, Chess prodigies!
