Gardiner Chess run holiday programs in two locations: Brisbane and Gold Coast. Programs run from 8.30am through to 4.00pm and consists of 3-4 lessons each day where new concepts are learnt, plus tournament games and a chance to get fresh air!
Our holiday programs are a lot of fun, and a great way for kids to learn more about chess in a relaxed and engaging setting.
Gardiner Chess is excited to present the Term 2 Sunshine Coast One Day Challenge. This one day rapid event is perfect for juniors of all ages and abilities as there will be two divisions!
The OPEN division is for all rated players and for those trying hard to get a rating. The NOVICE division will be for unrated players only and is perfect for younger or newer players wanting to try a weekend tournament for the first time.
Other Tournament details are:
Come along and give this event a go and have a heap of fun! Parents can hang around and enjoy some sunshine in the outside area or head across the road to the cafe and other eateries!
Gardiner Chess is excited to present the Term 2 Gold Coast Girls Tournament. This one day rapid event is perfect for girls of all ages and abilities as there will be two divisions!
The OPEN division is for all rated players and for those trying hard to get a rating. The NOVICE division will be for unrated players only and is perfect for younger or newer girls wanting to try a weekend tournament for the first time.
Other Tournament details are:
Come along and give this event a go and have a heap of fun! Parents can hang around and enjoy some sunshine in the outside area or head across the road to the cafe and other eateries!
One of the biggest events on the junior calendar is the Gold Coast Junior Championships. This event is split into three different divisions with Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12-18 sections.
Will anybody be able to win both their age group in the Gold Coast Juniors and then back it up in the Queensland Juniors?
Under 8 – Saturday 21st June
Under 10 – Sunday 22nd June
Under 12-18 – Both days!
William Duncan State School
Corner Explorers Way and Alexander Drive, Highland Park
Under 8 and Under 10 – 15 minutes + 3 secs per move
Under 12 to 18 – 30 minutes + 30 secs per move
Under 8 and 10 – $45 per player
Under 12 to 18 – $85 per player
Under 8 and 10 – trophies for 1st to 3rd as well as best girl. Additional prizes added pending numbers
Under 12 to 18 – trophies for 1st to 3rd in each age group. $300, $200, $100 for 1st to 3rd overall.
Gardiner Chess is proud to be able to present the 2025 Queensland Junior Chess Championships. This prestigious event brings together the top junior players in Queensland to battle it out across 8 rounds of competition to see who will be crowned the State Champion.
| Prize Money | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | Best Girl |
| Under 18 | $600 | $300 | $250 | $250 |
| Under 16 | $300 | $150 | $100 | |
| Under 14 | $300 | $150 | $100 | |
| Under 12 | $200 | $150 | $100 | $100 |
| Under 10 | $150 | $100 | $75 | $75 |
| Under 8 | $150 | $100 | $75 | $75 |
| Schedule | Tuesday 1st | Wednesday 2nd | Thursday 3rd | Friday 4th |
| U18 R 1/3/5/7 | 9.30am | 9.30am | 9.30am | 9.00am |
| U18 R 2/4/6/8 | 2.30pm | 2.30pm | 2.30pm | 2.00pm |
| U12 Start | 9.30am (R1-4) | 9.00am (R5-8) | ||
| U12 Finish (approx.) | 6.00pm | 5.30pm | ||
| U10 Start | 9.30am (R1-8) | |||
| U10 Finish (approx.) | 9.00pm | |||
| U8 Start | 9.30am (R1-8) | |||
| U8 Finish (approx.) | 9.00pm |
It is a requirement of entry that all players are CAQ financial members. Please see here to join / check your membership.
Other Information:
Students will be able to learn new strategies, play over famous games of chess, take on challenging puzzles, and play tournament games.
Coaching will be available to all levels from beginner through to tournament player.
Students should bring their lunch and snacks, water bottle and a HAT!
When
Monday 7th July — Tuesday 8th July, 2025
8:30am – 4:00pm
Where
Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Aquatic Centre – Top Floor Classrooms
Cost
$70 per child per day, $130 for two days.
$10 late fee on the day
Wednesday is Tournament Day!
Sunshine Coast Winter Cup
When
Wednesday 9th July 2025
(same venue)
Registration from 9:30am
Round 1 @ 10:00am
Finish @ 4:00pm
Cost
$45 per player. No Entries on the day.
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 student 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.
When
Wednesday 9th July, 2025
Times
Registration from 9:30am
Round 1 @ 10:00am
Finish @ 4:00pm
Where
Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Aquatic Centre – Top Floor Classrooms
Time Control:
15 minutes + 3 seconds per move.
Cost
$45 per player.
No entries on the day
Gardiner Chess currently runs several junior clubs in South-East Queensland.
The Brisbane Northside club runs from 6.00pm to 8.00pm every Tuesday night during term time at Nudgee College on Sandgate Road. Each night consists of students enjoying a combination of coaching sessions and playing time. The club also has different tournaments from time to time including their ACF rated club championship.
We have also added an extension group for Brisbane South on Thursday afternoons at Wishart State School from 4.15pm to 5.30pm headed up by FM Dusan Stojic! We will be running two groups with the aim of extending students with further coaching so this group is invite only. If you are interested, please contact us via [email protected].
On the Gold Coast we currently run a club out of our office on Mondays. This is invite only and runs from 4.15pm to 5.30pm. Please contact us if you are interested at all.
External clubs are a great way for students to meet new friends and be challenged by stronger players from different schools.
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.