“(It’s) peaceful. Not much noise,” he said. In year 6 at Ross Hill Primary School, John has loved the game since his mum Phuong taught it to him, and has a small treasure trove of trophies to show for it.

He likes seeing the line of stern king’s faces and castles displayed on the family’s piano.

“So I can remember all the games I played,” he said.

John has now surpassed Phuong's skills, but the two still regularly play together, partly because John struggles to find anyone else to challenge him.

Phuong, a single mother from Vietnam, said she’s glad she can bond with her sons over chess because she can’t play many Australian games with them.

She is immensely proud of John’s success.

John’s practice paid off in March last year at the regional round of the Sydney Academy of Chess Interschool Chess Challenge in Tamworth. 

The young chess master showed off his skills during the tournament, and after working his way up to the top tables with seven successful games, he was awarded top individual player in the primary section.

Primary was especially competitive last year, outstripping the numbers for the secondary section for the first time in three years.

He said he was “kind of excited,” by the crowd, but it was business as usual for John, who concentrated on his games, “some hard, some easy”.

John loves the mental gymnastics of the game, and revels in the thrill of out-thinking his opponent. 

“You have to concentrate. Look before you move. Because if you don’t look, the other person could just move a piece and the game’s over,” he said.

John also loves the intellectual challenge of mathematics and reading, and his dedication at school led to his election as vice captain this year.

Early in the year, John is still learning his responsibilities, but so far, he said he enjoys being in charge.