Chess federation holds arbiters course

As a federation, the need for qualified provincial arbiters for the Ehlanzeni region were identified, as Chess South Africa changed the law for rated tournaments and the only arbiter for the Ehlanzeni region had relocated. Chess South Africa determined that if a tournament was not supervised by a qualified arbiter, it would not be rated by it, thus negatively affecting the players’ ratings. It was also important for players to know and understand all chess rules and regulations very well in order to compete at provincial and national level, as a few new ones had come into effect in July and others changed.

An arbiter in chess is a referee. They must pass a very difficult exam and run a certain number of tournaments before being registered at Chess South Africa. This is done to ensure that tournaments are held according to all rules and regulations and maintain a high level of play.
Players, parents, team managers, teachers and trainers used the opportunity to attend the course which was presented by Rudolph Willemse of Johannesburg.

Willemse is a highly rated chess player himself and is a member of Chess South Africa’s arbiter and organisers committee.

The course was attended by 
• Karen Taljaard – Ehlanzeni Chess Federation PRO 
• Marco Craig – chess trainer
• Barry Wasserman – teacher, Bergland 
• Dumisa Nkosi – player
• Patrick Ngwenya – school chess 
• Eddie Bhila – player/trainer
• Cor Joubert – teacher, Hoërskool Lydenburg 
• André Hanekom – parent
• Cobus van Heerden – parent 
• Ruphus Sibanyoni – player
• Kalvin Mattheus – player 
• Hardus Joubert – player
• Jacques Hansen – parent 
• Renier Janse van Rensburg – parent
• Jandré Vreken – player 
• Nkosinathi Buthelezi – player.

The course took place on Friday and Saturday and a three-hour exam was written on Sunday. There was a lot of work to cover, which was very difficult and technical at times, but everyone enjoyed it.