Chigozie Egeonu took top honours at Carlswald House Preparatory School, walking away with R2 000 after winning the seven-round Midrand Rapid Open Chess Tournament.

The tournament, on September 26, attracted 45 players across different ages and playing levels, creating a strong field in which experienced competitors faced off against emerging talent. Johannes Manyed Mabusela finished runner-up and collected R1 500, while Lwazi Selepe completed the podium in third place, earning R1 000.

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Midrand Chess Club players also made their mark, with Norman Maliga finishing fourth and Arham Khalife claiming fifth in a tightly contested open section.

Club coach and tournament organiser Kgosimang Molefe said the format helped create an energetic and challenging competition.

“The event was played as an open section, meaning players of different ages and playing levels could compete together. We also recognised junior players across the different age groups, allowing younger players to compete against more experienced players,” said Molefe.

Played in the 15+5 rapid format, each player had 15 minutes for the game, with five seconds added after every move. The format demanded quick thinking, accurate play and effective time management. “Unlike classical chess, there was less time to calculate long variations, so time management, tactical awareness and decision-making under pressure became particularly important,” said Molefe.

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The tournament also formed part of an active year for the club, which has now hosted six tournaments and plans to continue expanding its programme.

Molefe said organising regular tournaments comes with financial and logistical challenges, particularly when working within a limited budget while ensuring venues, equipment, registration and player experience are properly managed.

The club received support from Gauteng Sports, which provided medals for junior players. “This type of support is important to us because it allows us to recognise young players and encourage them to continue participating in chess,” he said.

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Molefe said the club’s long-term focus is to make chess more accessible to young people in Midrand, while strengthening its school programmes and developing a pathway from beginners to competitive club-level players.

“For us, the tournaments are about more than just finding a winner; they are about creating opportunities for players to compete, learn, build confidence and develop a lasting interest in chess.”

The club thanked the players, parents, volunteers, schools, supporters and Gauteng Sports for contributing to the growth of chess in Midrand.

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