The 8th annual Poppies Chess Challenge returned to Poppies Bookstore in Howick on Saturday 25 July 2026, bringing an exciting showcase of competitive chess to our local community.
Organised by Howick-Pakuranga Chess Club Life Member Paul Spiller, this year’s event featured a Battle of the Sexes theme, with Candidate Master Leo Baker taking on talented female chess players from New Zealand’s chess community in a series of fast-paced blitz games.
First established in 2019, the Poppies Chess Challenge has become a special annual event, giving the public an opportunity to watch some of New Zealand’s talented chess players in action, right in the heart of Howick Village.
This year’s event also helped raise funds for New Zealand’s chess teams travelling to the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September 2026.
Chess Aotearoa Magazine supported the fundraising effort by offering special magazine editions and postcards signed by reigning New Zealand Champion IM Felix Xie, with proceeds going towards the Olympiad Appeal.
A special thank you to Paul Spiller for his continued dedication to organising this unique event, and to Tony Moores of Poppies Bookstore for his longstanding generosity and support.
The Poppies Chess Challenge is a wonderful example of how our chess community brings people together, celebrates emerging talent and supports New Zealand players in pursuing their ambitions on the international stage.
See the event page for the details of the match.