Photo: Gladson Xavier/Pexels
Ten of New Zealand's top chess players have just finished competing at the world's most elite chess tournament.
Earlier this month, an open team and a women's team represented New Zealand, travelling to Hungary to play in Chess Olympiad.
It turned out to be incredibly successful for the country.
The event is seen as the Olympics of the chess world - a biennial team event which decides what country dominates the 64 squares.
New Zealand chess player Nadia Braganza was on the women's team which placed 48th out of more than 160 countries.
She was ecstatic about the results.
"I think it's our first time being in the top 50, so that was really cool. We were also close to getting a medal in our category, we came fourth so we just missed it."
She also scored herself a Women's FIDE Master title after winning seven out of eight games.
"I've won the WFM title twice in two Oceania tournaments, one which was in 2019 and the other was this year, but I had not crossed 1900 rating. I was hoping to get a 1900 rating in this tournament, so fortunately I did."
The open team also played better than expected, finished 70th out of nearly 200 teams.
New Zealand Chess Federation president Nigel Metge said both local teams performed very well.
"One of our young players actually beat an Australian Grand Master which is a really wonderful and difficult thing to do.
Nearly 1900 players competed in the 45th Chess Olympiad, a record number for the tournament.
Top grand masters such as world number one Magnus Carlsen from Norway and current world champion, China's Ding Liren, were there.
Women's team member Yolanda Chang was stunned to be in the same tournament hall as experts she had only ever seen play online.
"For my games I could just walk around and a few tables across was Magnus and Ding Liren, the whole Indian team."
She also came away with a Women's Master title.
"You have to win six out of nine games, I got the title in the last round, and it was really tough, I was nervous."
In chess, a person's rating works as a handicap, titles are awarded to those who exceed a master level understanding of the game.
But for chess players, the ultimate prize is receiving the coveted grand master title.
Braganza was one of many young chess players who hoped to reach this level one day.
"My biggest goal would be to become a grand master, but I think my realistic goal right now is to try and cross 2000 rating now that I've crossed 1900."
As for the winners? India has fast become the world's toughest country to beat.
Both the women's and the open Indian teams topped the rankings, scoring double gold at the 2024 chess Olympics.
