1/15/2016 – The first New Zealand Chess Championship was played in 1879. The 123rd edition took place from 2nd to 10th January in Devonport, an idyllic town close to Auckland. After nine rounds English GM Gawain Jones emerged as sole winner with 7.5/9, half a point ahead of Ju Wenjun, Ma Qun, and Nigel Short. IM Deimante Daulyte sends a large pictorial report.