Gardiner Chess prides itself on running first class events which cater to a variety of abilities. Whether a child is looking to play in their first tournament outside of school, through to the top players from Australia and overseas we have an event suitable for everyone. If you are not sure whether an event may be suitable for you/your child please let us know and we will be able to assist.
The Gold Coast Open is the marquee event in Queensland and has become established as one of the elite tournaments in Australia. Gardiner Chess’ aim with the Gold Coast Open is to provide an opportunity for players of all levels to compete with Minor, Major and Premier divisions. Our Premier division goal is to help generate GM and IM Norms for aspiring players, and IA or FA Norms for aspiring arbiters.
The organising team led by Andrew FitzPatrick would love to welcome you to the Gold Coast to compete in this wonderful event, which in 2025 will run from July 10 to 14 at the Broadbeach Cultural Centre.
Welcome to the 2026 Term 3 – Brisbane South One Day Challenge
Gardiner Chess is excited to present this one day rapid event, perfect for juniors of all ages and abilities with two divisions!
Event Details:
Tournament Details:
Registration closes Friday 7th August. No registrations will be accepted after this time.
Come along and give this event a go and have a heap of fun! Parents are welcome to hang around.
Important: Parents are responsible for the supervision of their child.
Welcome to the 2026 Term 3 – Gold Coast One Day Challenge
Gardiner Chess is excited to present this one day rapid event, perfect for juniors of all ages and abilities with two divisions!
Event Details:
Tournament Details:
Registration closes Friday 21st August. No registrations will be accepted after this time.
Come along and give this event a go and have a heap of fun! Parents are welcome to hang around.
Important: Parents are responsible for the supervision of their child.
Welcome to the 2026 Term 3 – Brisbane North One Day Challenge
Gardiner Chess is excited to present this one day rapid event, perfect for juniors of all ages and abilities with two divisions!
Event Details:
Tournament Details:
Registration closes Friday 11th September. No registrations will be accepted after this time.
Come along and give this event a go and have a heap of fun! Parents are welcome to hang around.
Important: Parents are responsible for the supervision of their child.
One of Queensland’s most prestigious weekenders!
The Nell Van de Graaff Classic is held yearly to celebrate Nell Van de Graaff and her passion for chess. This event is also unique in that whilst it is an individual tournament, players will also be able to compete as part of a team. Team rating averages must be under 1500 ACF in the Open and 750 QJ in the junior. Teams can be advised in advance, or we can help put you in a team on the day (Arbiters will work to make team averages as competitive as possible, however cannot guarantee all teams a realistic chance at team prizes).
Players must record their moves during their game.
Players must be members of the Chess Association of Queensland to participate.
2 Divisions!
Open Division (Open to adults and juniors).
Junior U1000 QJ (Players with a QJ rating under 1000).
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September
Where
William Duncan State School Hall
Cnr Alexander Drive and Explorers Way.
Entry Fee Structure
Schedule
Please note that unless requested prior, players will be paired for Round 1. Any players not at their seats within half an hour of the games commencing will be forfeited.
Time Control
60 minutes per player + 10 seconds per move
Open Prizes
Junior Prizes
Team Prizes (Open)
Team Prizes (Junior)
For any questions, bye requests (1/2pt byes available in rounds 1-4), please email [email protected].
Students will learn new strategies, play over famous games of chess, take on challenging puzzles, and play tournament-style games. Coaching is available for all levels from beginner through to tournament player.
Choose which days your child attends during registration.
Put your new skills to the test at the 2026 Brisbane South Spring Holiday Cup
📅 Thursday 24th September
Registration from 9:30am | 10:00am – 4:00pm
Same venue | $45 per player
⚠️ Important: Children are to be picked up no later than 4:00pm from the venue. Parents are responsible for the transport and supervision of their child before and after the program.
🏁 Spaces are limited — register early to avoid missing out!
The Cup days provide a great opportunity for students to put into practice what they have been learning at the holiday programs, or for new students to come along and just enjoy a tournament experience!
Students will play a minimum of 7 rounds across the day. Students should bring lunch, snacks, a water bottle and a hat for the day.
⚠️ Important: No entries on the day. Parents are responsible for the transport and supervision of their child.
📅 Registration closes on Tuesday 22nd September
No registrations will be accepted after this time.
Find all of the relevant event policies here, including our photography policies, supervision policy, etc.
Check out all the results from previous events. We will have events from this year and last year available, whilst we have archives off-site for other results if required.
Event Name:
Registration for individuals is via our iClassPro app, and is only available on selected tournaments.
For all questions please contact our Events team on [email protected]
Please Note: This form is for School Teachers and Coordinators ONLY. Individual registration links are available for schools where there is no chess coordinator or official school entries. Please email [email protected] for further information.
Step One: Download the spreadsheet below and complete all details. For all questions please contact our events team on [email protected]
Step Two: Complete the form below and upload the spreadsheet.