Jordan makes mark on chess and charity
Clifton Terrace student Jordan Kelso’s chess manouevres are set to leave behind a legacy for the sport as he readies for intermediate school.
The 11-year-old recently competed at the Chess Power 2016 Champions Trophy against New Zealands top 100 players to rank 88th.
The experience led Jordan to want to donate a Clifton Chess Cup before the year ends in the hope that it would help spur competitive students on to strengthen their playing skills.
Jordan said the cup would be named in honour his teacher, Rosemary Cooke, who championed the existence of the school’s chess club. The club meets every Monday with about 30 players taking part.
Jordan’s father, Steve, said his son began play at four years old. The intrigue strengthened as he grew but it wasn’t until his teacher noticed the ’’fascination’’ four years ago that helped drive Jordan to play at a national level.
‘‘I like strategy in chess and I just find that it’s a sport that I like,’’ Jordan said.
Despite only three wins in Wellington at the competition, Jordan said the opportunity to play drove him to strengthen his game in hopes of competing again next year.
‘‘I knew I would be [nervous] coming up against the top chess players from all around New Zealand,’’ he said.
‘‘A few people like playing speed chess to put you under a bit of pressure.’’
To get to the championships Jordan set up a fundraiser. He ran it alongside his school’s Rod Dixon’s KiDSMARATHON and put one in every five dollars toward childhood cancer research and awareness.
Having raised enough to get to his championship Jordan gave $90 to the Nelson Regional Child Cancer Foundation’s ambassador Chris Jack to pass on to the organisation.
‘‘It gave me a bit of confidence, knowing that you’ve done some good for the community,’’ he said.
Steve said his son’s desire to raise money for child cancer had ‘‘heart in it’’ after he sadly lost an aunt and grandparent to the dis- ease.
‘‘I think he thinks child cancer would be a form of getting help early.’’
Jordan said he would love to play chess as a career but was not sure that was possible. Instead, he said to play cricket would be a dream.