New Zealand Chess Championship

The New Zealand Chess Championship is an annual open tournament played to determine the country's chess champion. It is organised by the New Zealand Chess Federation.

The first installment of the championship was held in Christchurch in 1879, and was won by Henry Hookham. Following a 9 year break, the tournament resumed in the New Year of 1888/89, and has been held annually since. It has been played with the Swiss system since 1996/97.

Note: Up until 1934 foreign players were eligible for the title. The eligibility rules were changed in 1935 to preclude this; John Angus Erskine (twice champion in 1929 and 1935) was born in Invercargill and was therefore eligible although he was domiciled in Melbourne, Australia.

New Zealand Rapid Champions
The New Zealand Rapid Chess Championship was first conducted in 1993.

The event is organised by the New Zealand Chess Federation.

Women's Championship Winners
The New Zealand Women's Championship is played for the Mabel Abbott Trophy, named for the winner of the inaugural event in 1938.

The 2023 edition was held as a memorial event for 2006 winner WIM Sue Maroroa Jones, who passed away earlier in the year.

North Island Champions
The North Island Chess Championship was first conducted in 1954. Players compete for the Charles Belton Trophy. The event is organised by the New Zealand Chess Federation.

South Island Champions
The South Island Chess Championship was first conducted in 1950. The event is organised by the New Zealand Chess Federation.

New Zealand Correspondence Champions
Winners of the New Zealand correspondence chess Championship (start year given):


 * 1933	R.O. Scott
 * 1934	---
 * 1935	E.F. Tibbetts
 * 1936	J.T. Burton
 * 1937	S. Hindin
 * 1938	S. Hindin
 * 1939	S. Hindin
 * 1940	G.C. Cole
 * 1941	J.A. Cunningham
 * 1942	G.C. Cole
 * 1943	G.C. Cole
 * 1944	F.H. Grant, T. Lepviikman, N.M. Cromarty
 * 1945	C.J. Taylor
 * 1946	R.W. Lungley
 * 1947	D.I. Lynch
 * 1948	D.I. Lynch
 * 1949	N.M. Cromarty
 * 1950	N.M. Cromarty
 * 1951	H.G. King, J.A. Cunningham
 * 1952	H.P. Whitlock
 * 1953	R.W. Park
 * 1954	J.A. Cunningham
 * 1955	E.J. Byrne
 * 1956	A.E. Turner
 * 1957	D.I. Lynch
 * 1958	R.A. Court, L. Esterman
 * 1959	R.A. Court, J. Eriksen, J.A. Cunningham
 * 1960	J.A. Cunningham
 * 1961	F.A. Foulds
 * 1962	R.A. Court
 * 1963	J. Eriksen
 * 1964	F.A. Foulds
 * 1965	Ortvin Sarapu
 * 1966	R.S. Wilkin, R.A. Court
 * 1967	J.H. Patchett
 * 1968	Ortvin Sarapu
 * 1969	Ortvin Sarapu
 * 1970	Richard John Sutton
 * 1971	Paul Anthony Garbett
 * 1972	K.W. Lynn
 * 1973	D.A. Flude
 * 1974	T. van Dijk
 * 1975	L.J. Jones
 * 1976	P.A. Clemance
 * 1977	L.J. Jones
 * 1978	R.W. Smith
 * 1979	M.R. Freeman
 * 1980	R. Chapman
 * 1981	R. Chapman
 * 1982	Paul Anthony Garbett, T. van Dijk
 * 1983(50)M.R. Freeman
 * 1984	M.R. Heasman
 * 1985	P. van Dijk
 * 1986	G.M. Turner
 * 1987	P. van Dijk
 * 1988	H.P. Bennett, M.F.Noble (IM)
 * 1989	H.P. Whitlock
 * 1990	P.W. Stuart
 * 1991	R.J. Dive, P.W. Stuart
 * 1992	M.G. Hampl
 * 1993(60)R.J. Dive
 * 1994	G.B. Banks
 * 1995	M.G. Hampl
 * 1996	B.F. Barnard
 * 1997	B.F. Barnard
 * 1998	B.F. Barnard
 * 1999	T.J. Doyle
 * 2000   A.J. Short
 * 2001   M.L. Dunwoody
 * 2002   M.L. Dunwoody
 * 2003(70)P.B. Goffin
 * 2004   R.E. Gibbons
 * 2005   R.E. Gibbons, M.F. Noble (SIM)
 * 2006   H.P. Bennett
 * 2007   H.P. Bennett, M.F. Noble (SIM)
 * 2008   M.F. Noble (SIM)
 * 2009   M.F. Noble (SIM)
 * 2010   M.F. Noble (GM)
 * 2011   M.F. Noble (GM), P.B. Goffin
 * 2012   M.F. Noble (GM)
 * 2013(80)M.F. Noble (GM)
 * 2014   M.F. Noble (GM), M King, M Donnelly/King, J Eide
 * 2015   M.F. Noble (GM)
 * 2016   M.F. Noble (GM)
 * 2017   M.F. Noble (GM)
 * 2018   M.T. Sims
 * 2019   M.D. McNabb
 * 2020   M.D. McNabb
 * 2021   M.F. Noble (GM), M.D. McNabb, M.T. Sims, R.E. Gibbons
 * 2022   R.E. Gibbons, M King
 * 2023   M.F.Noble (GM), F Chen, M.T. Sims, P Cook, L.D. Lavery


 * M.F. Noble (GM) 15 Titles
 * J.A. Cunningham, R.A. Court & R.E.Gibbons 4 Titles
 * G.C. Cole, S.Hindin, O.Sarapu, D.I. Lynch, B.F. Barnard & H.P. Bennett, M D McNabb, 3 Titles

New Zealand Veterans Champions
Winners of the New Zealand Veterans Championship (start year given):


 * 2014   R. E. Gibbons, A. Booth, N. Cooper
 * 2015   R. E. Gibbons, N. Cooper
 * 2016   G. Kerr
 * 2017   W. Lynn
 * 2018   G. Kerr
 * 2019   P. Garbett
 * 2020   R. E. Gibbons
 * 2021   Covid Lockdown