Khelo India Chess Tournament draws 200 players to Paulshof
A weekend of strategy and skill unfolded in Paulshof as the third Khelo India Chess Tournament brought together hundreds of players.
The third edition of the Khelo India Chess Tournament brought more than 200 players together at Nova Pioneer School over the weekend of April 18 and 19.
Hosted by the Consulate General of India Johannesburg in partnership with the Lonehill Chess Academy, the tournament forms part of the Indian government’s Khelo India diaspora initiative, aimed at promoting sport and cultural exchange globally.
Read more: Nova Pioneer to host full-day chess tournament, with holistic twist
Founder and director of Lonehill Chess Academy, Jay Venkat (Venky), said the event has steadily grown since it started.
“We’ve been coaching chess for over four years now, and together with Khelo India, which is the flagship sports promotion campaign of the Indian government through the consulate in Johannesburg, we’ve been running this tournament for the past two years. This is now the third edition of the Khelo India Open LCHS tournament.”
The two-day event was split into two formats, Swiss (classical chess) and Blitz, catering to different levels and styles of play.
Also read: Students compete to become chess masters
“In total, we had more than 200 participants competing across the two days. The Blitz format, which is five minutes per player, had over 40 participants, while the Swiss format attracted around 160 players.”
The Swiss format, regarded as the most widely used competitive format globally, gave each player 60 minutes, resulting in games lasting up to two hours. Players competed across multiple sections, including Prestige A, B, C, and D.
Venky noted that the tournament not only provides competitive exposure but also helps grow the local chess community.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Watch: Quiet fills the room as players go head-to-head at the Khelo India Chess Tournament in Paulshof, each move bringing them closer to checkmate. Video: Ayanda Ntshingila #Fourways #Chess ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
“The Swiss format is what we call classical chess, and it remains the most popular across the world. Hosting events like this allows players of all levels to experience structured competition and improve their game.”
Winners across all sections were rewarded from a R25 000 prize fund for their performances, with prizes awarded to the top three players in each category.
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