Despite the start of the winter sports, there were over 200 chess players who participated in the TRAC/Curro Chess Tournament on Saturday.

The sponsorship of the annual Curro Nelspruit chess tournament forms part of TRAC’s education and skills development programme, which falls under their corporate and social investment portfolio. Different age groups took part. It was a battle of the finest.

In the u/8, Jean Eksteen won, in second place it was Adriaan van Dyk and Jared Oberholzer in the third place. The u/10 Open winner is Chinedu Ogunjiofor, followed by Schalk Loock in second and Nduduzo Lukhele took third.

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Lucky Onwusaka took first place, Mieke Pauer was in second and Jasbir Naidoo obtained third in the u/12 games.
In the u/14 item Asinobi (AJ) Ogunjiofor took first place, Onyinye Dennison Ogunjiofor took second and Nathan Cooper was in third.

Michiel Eksteen was the winner in the u/16 item, followed by Gift Onwusaka in second place, and Eugene Lourens in third. The u/20 winner is Arjun Prabha Sopanam, Johan Odendaal in second and Tumelo Manyike in third.
In the Open games, candidate master Banele Mhango won, Dumisa Jacob Nkosi took second and Mthobisi Sydwel Maluka obtained third.

The best girls in different age groups:

Isabelle Uffer (u/8)
Irene Svourati (u/10)
Mia Van Dyk (u/12)
Likhokuhle Thabethe (u/14)
Honey Sigudla (u/16)
Jessica Muller (u/20).

In a statement, Karen Taljaard of Ehlanzeni Chess said Curro Nelspruit and TRAC have identified a school where they wanted to develop chess – Zwelisha Secondary School. “Chess sets were sponsored and players from Curro Nelspruit visited Zwelisha to teach the learners how to play.

During the last visit, their top 10 players were identified. They were invited and sponsored to participate in the TRAC/Curro tournament. The learners from Zwelisha thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are more determined than ever to master the skill of playing,” she said.

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“What is so amazing about chess in our area is that our players become friends irrespective of which school they represent. Unlike other sports, at our chess tournaments we are all one. On the chessboard they compete, but off the board they play together, sit together, laugh and enjoy each other’s company,” she explained.

Amanda Steven-Jennings of Curro Nelspruit said 52 players from Curro participated. She congratulated all the learners who participated. Steven-Jennings said it was such a privilege to have their special guests, the children and their caretakers from Zwelisha care centre.

“Our Zweli kids were amazing and played like seasoned chess players. Our learners and the Ehlanzeni people made them feel so welcome. A big thank you to everyone involved,” she said.

Taljaard thanked TRAC, Curro Nelspruit, players, parents and everyone who was involved in making the tournament and the sport great.