Tournament helps young chess players showcase their talent
Two young chess players displayed their exceptional talent with category wins during the Malelane Primary Chess Tournament, hosted by the Ehlanzeni Chess Union on Saturday.
A total of 155 players competed in the annual Malelane Primary Chess Tournament on Saturday.
The school hall was filled with people from all over the Ehlanzezni region who competed in categories ranging from u/10 to open (over-18s).
In the open category, Banele Mhango (15) won with full marks. He faced chess players of 18 and older. Mhango will be participating in the African Youth Chess Championship in Kenya later this year. He has already reached the rank of Candidate-Master and hopes to move to the next title (Fide Master) during this event.
Local chess star, Arjun Sopanam Prabha (10) won the u/16 category, proving once again that he is a fearsome opponent. Prabha has just returned from India, where he competed in the Commonwealth Games.
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Karen Taljaard from Ehlanzeni Chess explained that the union works closely with all the schools and clubs in the region, as the institutions host tournaments under their banner.
The Malelane Primary tournament has been presented for several years. Taljaard said principal Gerben Janse van Rensburg strongly believes in the value that chess has for their pupils.
Ehlanzeni Chess players participate in the SA Junior Chess Championships every year and several teams end up in the top three of their categories. Several individuals also achieve excellent results.
Five players qualified to represent SA in international tournaments this year.
Taljaard explained that finance was one of the biggest challenges players face, as it is expensive to compete overseas.
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“Chess is not really a spectator sport and doesn’t get the publicity and exposure it deserves. We invite corporates and businesses to get involved with chess. This will help us assist players in reaching their full potential,” she said.
Ehlanzeni Chess’s next tournament is the Lowveld Open at the NG Church Hall in White River tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. Some of the country’s best players compete here and enthusiasts are looking forward to displays of top quality chess.
For more information or to register for a tournament, visit www.ehlanzenichess.co.za.
