Emilia ponders before she conquers

KIRK HARGREAVES/The Press

CONCENTRATION: The face said it all for seven-year-old Emilia Mackenzie at a Christchurch girls' inter-school chess tournament.

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The face said it all for seven-year-old Emilia Mackenzie at a Christchurch girls' inter-school chess tournament yesterday.

The year 2 pupil was a member of the Selwyn House School team.

More than 130 girls in years 2 to 13 from 20 city schools competed in the event, which is being hosted by Selwyn House.

Emilia said she had been playing chess since the age of three, when she took up the game with her father.

"Now I play against him and I win every time," she said.

Emilia said she enjoyed the game because of the various moves. She practised at weekends and thought the tournament was "really, really good".

A team from Fendalton School emerged victorious in the year 1-6 grade, narrowly beating Lincoln Primary School on a countback. Cobham Intermediate won the year 7-8 grade ahead of St Marks School from Opawa, and Christchurch Girls' High School ended Rangi Ruru's reign, winning the year 9-13 grade.

The competition will continue today for 60 girls in the individual event.

- © Fairfax NZ News