Once a local chess-champion, Genesis has spent the last few years in and out of mental institutions. On the condition that a family member takes care of him, Gen is released from the ward into the home of his estranged, gang-member brother, Ariki, and Ariki’s soon- to-be-patched son Mana, as well as an array of gang-members that frequent the house.

Needing a purpose and a reason to get out of the gang-pad, Gen joins a local chess club populated by displaced Gisborne youth. At his first club meeting, on a manic impulse, Gen announces that he is going to lead them to the National Chess championship tournament in Auckland in only six weeks time.