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.
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.
Gardiner Chess currently runs several junior clubs in South-East Queensland.
The Brisbane Northside club runs from 6.00pm to 7.30pm 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 GPS Coach Jonathan Jones! 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].
We also run a club on Wednesday at Brisbane Boys College from 4.30pm to 5.45pm. please contact us via [email protected] if interested. This group will cater to a wider range of abilities – including several nearby schools without a program – however will still be targeted to rated players and those close to a rating.
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.