There was a palpable intensity in the air at Newstead Raob on Saturday afternoon for the first rounds of the 2018 Tasmanian Chess Championships.
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The three-day Tasmanian Chess Association tournament is the most prestigious championship of the year, with players from across the state participating.
Two giants of Tasmanian chess were competing at the tournament – political analyst Kevin Bonham and defending champion Ian Rout.
Mr Rout won in 2017 and was co-winner with Mr Bonham in 2016.
Mr Rout said there were many different playing styles at the tournament.
“Some people are very aggressive and play wild games, with pieces flying everywhere, and some people are more cautious,” he said.
“I’m somewhere in between those I think.”