Chessnut at Australia‘s Premier Chess Event: The Doeberl Cup 2026

Location: Southern Cross Club, Canberra

If you’re curious about the chess scene in Australia, there is no better event than the Doeberl Cup. As Australia‘s longest-running premier chess event, it attracts strong local players as well as interstate and international competitors.

Having played in this event myself at the club level, I can say it has a unique atmosphere. Hosted at the Southern Cross Club, the venue is completely taken over by chess players across the Easter long weekend. With around 500 players and guests attending, the event brings a strong presence to the area — inside the venue is buzzing with activity, while just outside things feel calm and unchanged.

The tournament is split across five divisions:
Premier, Major, Minor, Mini, and Under 1200. This structure allows players of all levels to compete, while still giving everyone a realistic chance at winning their division.

And that‘s where Chessnut comes in.

Chessnut supported the event by providing a board for each division winner, along with additional boards for giveaways throughout the tournament.

Day 1 – Thursday, April 2 (Preparation)

The night before the event, we arrived in Canberra and met with the organisers to confirm booth placement, logistics, and how prizes and giveaways would be handled.

With only the Premier event running and the main hall booked for an Australian performer, this was more of a preparation day. It gave us time to get everything organised and ready for the full tournament kickoff.

Day 2 – Friday, April 3 (Opening Ceremony)

With all divisions beginning, this was the busiest arrival day of the event. Players gathered for the opening ceremony, where organisers outlined the tournament structure and schedule.

We arrived early to set up the Chessnut booth, and during the ceremony it was announced that Chessnut boards would be given away throughout the event.

Once round one began, the booth quickly became active. Parents, spectators, and players who finished early came over to see the boards in action. It was a great opportunity to introduce people to the Chessnut range, demonstrate how the boards work, and let them try the experience for themselves.

Day 3 – Saturday, April 4 (Momentum Builds)

By day three, booth traffic noticeably increased. More players were making their way over between rounds, and interest continued to grow.

This was also the final day for the Under 1200 division. A last call for entries into the U1200 prize draw was made, and we held the giveaway before the final round, giving one lucky participant a win before their last game.

Lucky door prize – U1200 division

A Chessnut GO was given away before the final round.

Later in the day, during presentations, the winner of the U1200 division was awarded a Chessnut GO.

1st Place of U1200 Division – winning a Chessnut GO

Day 4 – Sunday, April 5 (Consistent Engagement)

With the U1200 section complete, you might expect things to slow down. Instead, it created more space and time for players and spectators from other divisions to visit the booth.

Interaction remained steady throughout the day, with many taking the opportunity to get a closer look at the boards and ask questions.

Day 5 – Monday, April 6 (Finals and Wrap-Up)

The final day focused on presentations, but due to ongoing interest, we opened the booth one last time.

On display was the standout product of the event, the Chessnut Move, alongside the full lineup of prize boards.

To kick things off, we ran one final giveaway, with a lucky winner receiving a Chessnut Air.Lucky draw – selected by Chief Arbiter Alana Chibnall. Local resident Prakarshia won a Chessnut Air.

Throughout the five days, the booth maintained consistent traffic, with strong interest from players, parents, and spectators alike.During the final presentations:

● Mini Division winner received a Chessnut Air

● Minor Division winner received a Chessnut Air+

● Major Division winner received a Chessnut EVO

● Premier Division winner received a Chessnut Pro

Congratulations to Grandmaster Guha Mitrabha – winner of the Doeberl

With the event complete, we packed up and began the journey back to Sydney.

Final Thoughts

A big thank you to the Doeberl Cup organisers and staff for having us at the event.

Chessnut is proud to support the Australian chess community and bring innovative, connected chess experiences to players of all levels.

If you‘re interested in exploring smart chess boards or want to see Chessnut at future events, stay tuned for more tournament activations and partnerships.

By Wade Higgins
Chessnut Brand Representative, Australia
April 2026