Genesis Wayne Potini (5 September 1963 – 15 August 2011) was a New Zealand speed chess player.

Life and work

Potini was a man of

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

descent. He was known for his skills as a speed (1 min.) chess player. Together with two friends, he formed a chess club (''The Eastern Knights'') where underprivileged children found a home base – and learned to play chess in the process. The chess club was also involved with the

Ngāti Porou Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou is affiliated with the 28th Maori Battalion and has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand ...

heritage. Potini suffered from a

bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...

and was regularly admitted to hospital. Despite this he was able to stabilise his life and during his last decade make a strong contribution to his community. He died in 2011 and was buried at Taruheru Cemetery in Gisborne.

Documentary and feature film

In 2003 director Jim Marbrook made a documentary film about Potini (''Dark Horse''). The film was awarded the 2005 Best New Zealand Feature Documentary. In 2014 James Napier Robertson presented his feature film '' The Dark Horse'' (starring

Cliff Curtis Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis (born 27 July 1968) is a New Zealand actor. His film credits include ''Once Were Warriors'' (1994), ''Three Kings'' (1999), ''Training Day'' (2001), ''Whale Rider'' (2002), ''Collateral Damage'' (2002), ''Sunshine'' ...

). The film won many awards, became a hit at the NZ box office, and was declared "one of the greatest New Zealand films ever made".

References

External links

Short film, and photographs of Potini during coaching sessions (Chessbase.com)

Potini at ChessGames.com

Potini at 365Chess.com

''NZ Herald'' (July 2014) about the feature film ''The Dark Horse'' by James Napier Robertson

''The Big Idea'' (Sept. 2003) about the documentary film ''Dark Horse'' by Jim Marbrook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potini, Genesis New Zealand chess players New Zealand Māori sportspeople People with bipolar disorder 1963 births 2011 deaths Ngāti Porou people Burials at Taruheru Cemetery People from Gisborne, New Zealand