Congratulations to Year 8 student, Rebecca Wibowo, who won second place in the 2024 Chess Victoria State Rapid Chess Championship.  

Competing in the U18 Girls Division, against older and more experienced players, Rebecca’s achievement is a testament to her skills in chess and her dedication to her sport. Rapid chess is a variation of chess where each player is given a much shorter time, usually 15 minutes with no increment, to complete all their moves. 

Commencing chess in Year 3, Rebecca has continued to hone her skills and challenge herself in tournaments and competitions both within School and via Chess Victoria. 

“Having won first place in the U12 Girls Division two years ago at the Chess Victoria State Rapid Chess Championship, I aimed high this year and challenged myself by entering the U18 Division,” explains Rebecca.  

“The reduced time control in rapid chess makes players think and act quickly, which increases the risk of blunders. There is much less time to analyse positions, calculate plans and find the optimal moves. Managing time and making quick decisions can also be psychologically challenging.”  

“Despite facing much more experienced opponents who were at least three years older than me, I performed strongly, winning my first three rounds. Although I lost to a former National Champion in round four and to the eventual U18 Champion in round six, I’m very proud of myself for this achievement.” 

Commenting on Rebecca’s capacity to remain calm and focused when under pressure, Coordinator of Chess at St Catherine’s, Ms Gillian Hosking said “Through Rebecca’s achievements in the inter-school tournaments we have participated in this year, she has become an invaluable member of St Catherine’s Chess Team.”

Rebecca also pursues Karate and sees the sport as a similar discipline. “To me, chess is another form of martial arts, like brain boxing. It teaches me the importance of perseverance and resilience, especially when facing stronger opponents. Each game presents new challenges, pushing me to learn from my mistakes and think critically and creatively to win. It also involves taking calculated risks and trying to get into my opponents’ heads to anticipate their moves, which can be quite fun too,” Rebecca shares.  

Well done to Rebecca for this remarkable achievement.