Updated June 5th, 2025
A special thanks to Jocelyn for the following report and congratulations to all who went over to Perth for this highly prestigious event:
This year, the following junior players from South Australia participated at the Championships in Perth:
* U18 Open: James Boyd-Norman, William Carrigan, Sean Ran and Ethan Retnaraja
* U18 Girls: Athena-Malar Retnaraja
* U16 Open: Alexander Horlin-Smith
* U12 Open: Chen Bi (Lucas) Zang
* U12 Girls: Cindy Chen, Charlotte Chen and Emma Zuo
* U8 Girls: Ella Zuo
This is the biggest, the strongest and the most cateogories participated SA junior contingent ever attended the AJCC.
It is with great pride and joy to report that Team SA has punched above its weight, playing extraordinary chess and achieving amazing results, of which the late Mr Richard Thorne would be so proud.
Amongst them, there are 10 national titles in all: four national championships titles (2 classical and 2 blitz), two 1st runners-up (1 classical and 1 problem solving) and four 2nd runners-up (1 classical, 1 blitz and 2 problem solving). Jame, Ethan and Alexander were placed just outside the top placings.
Athena-Malar Retnaraja won the Australian U18 Girls Championship and the U18 Girls Blitz Championship
Cindy Chen won the Under 12 Girls Championship and came 3rd in the U12 Girls Blitz
Charlotte Chen came 3rd in the U14 Girls Championship and 2nd in the U12 Girls Problem Solving
Lucas Zang came 2nd in the Under 12 Open and 3rd in the U12 Open Problem Solving
Emma Zuo came 3rd in the U12 Girls Problem Solving
Ella Zuo came 1st in the U8 Girls Blitz Championship
What an unbelievable 12 months it has been for SA junior chess – from AJCC 2024 Adelaide to now! It shows for sure that SA players can play well – and win – at national chess tournaments.