WCM Isabelle Ning powered her way through the field to win her first NZ Women’s Championship title in Auckland today with a score of 6.5/7. The tournament was held as a tribute event for New Zealand WIM Sue Maroroa-Jones, a former winner of the Championship who passed away earlier this year.
After an early upset round one draw against 9-year-old rising star Olivia Li, Isabelle reeled off six consecutive wins to finish one and a half points clear of her nearest rival Sarah Wanyao Sun who scored 5 points. Third place was shared between five players on 4.5 points: Luna Xu, Emily Gan, Weiyang Yu, Jennya Charomova and Annie Yue.
Many of these players have already been selected for the NZ Women’s Olympiad training squad which is preparing for next year’s Olympiad in Budapest.
The under 1300 prize was shared between Olivia Li, Sayuni Rehansi and Sundeia Lomberg whilst the Senior prize was won by WFM Vivian Smith, a previous 10-time winner of the NZ Women’s Championship.
