King crowned: Chess champ brings trophy home after four decades
He’s been playing the game competitively since he was 10-years-old and now the Toowoomba student has been crowned king.
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It’s been four decades since a regional Queensland chess player has won a statewide competition but now one student has been crowned king.
Toowoomba Grammar School year 10 student Shafiuddin Aanan recently won the U18 Queensland Junior Chess Championship.
The 15-year-old battled it out on the chess board alongside 57 other contenders during the four day tournament.
“I was very happy to win because I’d been working towards this for a while,” Mr Aanan said.
“Anyone under 18 and across the state could compete … I went in feeling quite confident though.”
Winning his final game with a play that involved a sacrifice of the queen, the chess enthusiast is the first regional player to take home the win in more than four decades.
“My last game was a big one – I just needed a draw to win and luckily my component played into my preparation,” Mr Aanan said.
“David Stephson was the last player from a regional area and Toowoomba to win this title and he’s now one of my coaches.”
His love for the game started at a young age with Mr Aanan competing in tournaments from the age of 10.
“I love the beauty of the game,” he said.
“There are so many complexities – it’s not simple and you need to use a range of skills.”
The 15-year-old trains for at least one hour a day on weekdays and three hours on holidays and weekends.
As a result of his big win Mr Aanan took home a trophy and $500 in cash.
Over the course of four days, the student played two rounds per day with some games running for three and a half hours.
The big win means the Toowoomba student will gain direct entry into the Queensland Chess Championships.
He hopes to win a national title in the Australian Junior Championship next year.
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Originally published as King crowned: Chess champ brings trophy home after four decades
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