School students from across the region came together last week to battle it out in the NSW Junior Chess League Orange Zone Competition.

Hosted across two days by Catherine McAuley Primary School and Orange Christian School, the annual tournament has been running for more than 20 years. A total of 176 students from 11 schools took part in this year's event, facing each other in a battle of logic, strategy, and quiet determination.

The competition features four divisions catering to different skill levels: Junior Rookies (for Year 3 students and below), Rookies, Intermediate, and Championship (A grade). The top team in the Championship division earns the honour of representing Orange at the regional finals, facing off against winners from Bathurst, Mudgee, and Dubbo.

In the Championship division, it was Millthorpe Public School that made an impressive comeback from second place to clinch victory in the final round.

In the other divisions, the winners were: Nashdale Public School (Intermediate); St Mary's Catholic Primary School (Rookies); and Millthorpe Public School (Junior Rookies).

More than just a tournament, the event provided an inclusive opportunity for students of varying abilities to put their chess club skills into practice in a respectful, focused environment.

Orange East Public School teacher and competition organiser James Meares highlighted the impact of the competition on students.

“It’s so rewarding to see the children you have coached get to this level and battle silently. I love what it brings out in the kids: they can be quietly aggressive in a thinking way, and use their learned knowledge to win a match by forcing their opponent into what we call ‘checkmate’,” Mr Mears said.

With matches played in an atmosphere of quiet intensity, the tournament offered a unique blend of fierce competition and mutual respect, all hallmarks of the game of chess.

Schools interested in participating in next year’s event are encouraged to reach out to event organiser James Meares at james.meares@det.nsw.edu.au