12 year old Raymond Song created a sensation in the fourth round of the Queenstown Chess Classic by defeating seasoned Olympic player and former New Zealand Champion, International Master Russell Dive. Song who was born in New Zealand but moved to Sydney five years ago finished =1st in the World Under 10 Championship in Greece in 2004 and is also one of New South Wales' top swimmers for his age usually swimming 4-5 kms each day. Song, who turned 12 a few days ago, has just finished playing in the Australian Championship in Brisbane, the youngest competitor ever and the experience he gained there has prepared him well for this return to his country of birth.

Another former New Zealand Champion, Roger Nokes fared better in his game against Grandmaster Drazen Sermek from Slovenia. Playing on top board, Sermek offered a draw after 30 moves and Nokes accepted. All four of the Grandmasters participating have now dropped at least a draw and only five players remain on a perfect 4/4. Among them is International Master and five times New Zealand Champion Paul Garbett who today defeated International Women's Master Arianne Caoili.

The Queenstown tournament is the strongest international open chess tournament ever held in New Zealand and features 4 Grandmasters, 15 International Masters and 2 Women's International Masters from 19 different nations. Nine current or former New Zealand champions are competing in the Queenstown Classic which doubles as the 2006 New Zealand Championship. More than $35,000 in prizemoney is on offer in the Classic and two subsidiary events, the NZ Rapidplay and NZ Lightning Championships. Rounds begin every day at 3pm at the Millennium Hotel until 24th January and at 9.30 am on 25th and 26th January.

Leading Results Round 4:

R Nokes        (NZL)      1/2      D Sermek       (SLO)
ZY Zhao        (AUS)     1 - 0     S Lukey        (NZL)                  
R Sutton       (NZL)     0 - 1     A Wohl         (AUS)
M Geveke       (GER)     0 - 1     D Smerdon      (AUS)
A Susilodinata (INA)      1/2      P Froehlich    (GER)
A. Caoili      (AUS)     0 - 1     P Garbett      (NZL)
V Feldman      (AUS)     0 - 1     M Drummond     (AUS)
S Solomon      (AUS)     1 - 0     J Lakner       (AUS)
S Wastney      (NZL)     0 - 1     M Chandler     (ENG)
H Bennett      (NZL)      1/2      H Van Riemdijk (BRA)
R Wade         (NZL)      1/2      T Davis        (AUS)
R Dive         (NZL)     0 - 1     R Song         (AUS)

IM Russell Dive vs 12 year old whizz Raymond Song. Photo by Cathy Rogers.

Board 1, FM Roger Nokes vs GM Drazen Sermek. Photo by Cathy Rogers.