Chessnut at the Victorian Junior Rapid & Blitz Championships

Written by Wade Higgins, Official Chessnut Representative

After an 11-hour drive from Sydney to Melbourne, I arrived at the venue to find chess tables everywhere. We had just finished setting up the Chessnut booth when the crowd rushed in. This was Chessnut's fifth event of the year, and an important appearance for us in the Australian junior chess scene. Held in Maddingley, Melbourne, the event brought together around 450 junior players, plus parents, coaches and guests, making it a lively weekend from start to finish.

For Chessnut, this was a chance to connect directly with the Australian junior chess community. We weren't just showing products. We were talking face to face with parents, players, coaches and organisers.

Booth Location and Traffic

The Chessnut booth was set up directly outside the main playing hall, right in front of the main staircase players used to enter the tournament area. This gave us a constant flow of foot traffic and made it easy for parents and players to stop by between rounds.

Based on on-site figures, the booth was actively engaged around 95% of the time on Day 1, and around 70% of the time on Day 2. Many families came back multiple times, parents brought their children back to compare different models, and quite a few people took photos of the pricing and noted down the discount code.

Product Feedback on Site

The Chessnut Move was the standout product of the event. Kids lined up to try it, parents were just as interested, and the automatic piece movement drew a crowd every time it started.

The Pro, EVO and GO also attracted plenty of attention. The Pro appealed strongly to serious players and tournament competitors, the EVO drew interest from parents because it works independently, and the GO gained moderate interest thanks to its portability.

A lot of the questions from parents and players weren't just about playing online. They wanted to know how they could use the boards to improve their chess. Wade, our official Chessnut representative, has also made a number of tutorials on his YouTube channel @whiggi showing how to get more out of a Chessnut board, so it was great to have those conversations in person.

Parents also frequently asked if they could film their children using the boards. We were always happy to let them, and it gave Chessnut some extra organic content exposure.

Giveaway and On-Site Activation

The giveaway was a big part of the weekend. Volunteers did a great job managing entries, including putting more than 100 names into the wheel picker. Four lucky players went home with brand-new Chessnut GO boards, and winners from some of the stronger divisions also received GO boards.

Across the event, around 150 social media posts were generated, further extending Chessnut's visibility within the Australian chess community.

A Junior Event That Felt Like a Major Championship

Hobson's Bay Chess Club and Chess Victoria really went all out this time. From event T-shirts and custom backdrops, to a Lichess broadcast and livestream watched by thousands of viewers, and of course Chessnut's sponsorship, this certainly felt like something special.

For the young players involved, this wasn't just another weekend of chess. It was a proper event. Something they could be excited about and remember. And we think that's incredibly important for junior chess.

Brand Takeaways

The event further strengthened Chessnut's presence in the Australian junior chess community. We connected directly with a large number of parents, players and coaches, gathered real product feedback, and built a closer relationship with Chess Victoria.

The organisers were very supportive of sponsors, and Chessnut's branding appeared on tickets, T-shirts, email communications, social media posts and on-site signage, giving us visibility well beyond the booth itself.

Next Steps

Chessnut will continue to support junior chess events in Australia. We look forward to working with Chess Victoria and more local organisers to bring smart chessboards to more young players.

A huge thank you to Hobson's Bay Chess Club, Chess Victoria, the organisers and volunteers for putting together such a memorable weekend, and to everyone who stopped by the Chessnut booth to say hello, ask questions or try out a board.

It was a privilege to represent Chessnut at such a fantastic event.

Photos courtesy of Chess Life Academy and Hobson's Bay Chess Club.