The 2025 AIC Chess season delivered a thrilling competition across all year levels, culminating in history being made in the First IV competition and one of the closest Champion Aggregate School finishes in recent memory. 2025 also witnessed increased participation with the majority of schools now catering for a third team in each of the three divisions- Junior, Intermediate and Senior.

First IV Premiership 

History was made in 2025 with St Patrick’s College claiming their first Associated Independent Colleges First IV Chess Premiership. The Shorncliffe College was made to fight for the title every round but remained undefeated (6 wins & 1 draw) through the 7 rounds of competition. A grandstand finish to the season was created with St Patrick’s only ‘draw’ of the season coming in Round 6 which left an opportunity for both St Peters and St Laurence’s to claim the title if St Patrick’s could not win its final round fixture against Villanova. The St Patrick’s team was able to win an entertaining and skillful last round fixture 10-6 to claim the premiership. St Peters finished 2nd and St Laurence’s in the premier division.

St Patrick’s College- 2025 First IV Chess Premiers

St Patrick’s AIC Chess Coordinator, Ms Veronica Bannan was incredibly proud of her premiership winning team. “I am extremely proud of the team. All the First IV members have been working towards this for a long time. It would not have been possible if all the players had not contributed equally. It feels like all of their hard work has finally paid off and an exciting launch into what is possible for the future.” Ms. Bannan said.

This year an exciting initiative has been trialed with all of the First IV games from throughout the season being submitted to be utilised in calculating players Queensland Junior Chess Rankings. This will allow student performance from throughout the AIC Season to assist students in their qualifying and seeding for Queensland Junior Chess events.

Champion School Aggregate Shield

After seven intense rounds of strategic battles and calculated moves, it was St Peters Lutheran College who emerged as the overall aggregate champion, securing the AIC Chess Aggregate Shield by a small margin over St Laurence’s.

The Aggregate Shield came down to the final round of competition, with St Peters and St Laurence’s College locked in a tightly contested race for top honours and competing against each other in Round 7.  Both schools had demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the season, fielding strong teams from Year 5 through to the Open division. In the end, it was St Peters’ depth across the 5 Aggregate divisions- First IV, Senior A, Senior B, Intermediate A and Intermediate B – including winning 3 of those- that allowed St Peters to claim the coveted shield.

Mr. Dan Fraser, St Peters Boys Sport Coordinator praised the St Peters Chess teams. “Congratulations to all students involved in the St Peters Chess Program for winning 3 premierships and securing the aggregate for the third straight year. A credit to the strength of our program expanding to C teams this year and the work of our coaching staff and dedicated students for this feat” Mr. Fraser Said.

Premiership Division Results

Competition in all 5 Premiership divisions was close with all divisions coming down to the final week of competition.

Primary Chess 

The future of AIC Chess is very bright with great participation and excellent skill on display each week in the Junior (Primary) divisions. In the Junior A division, Marist College Ashgrove, Padua and St Laurence’s led the way, each winning 6 of their fixtures. In the Junior B competition, Marist College Ashgrove went through the season undefeated.

Photos supplied by AIC Colleges