It was while Amy Wallace was in her formative years that she grew to understood the mental benefits that chess could provide a person with.
Now having spent years travelling to various parts of the country through chess, the Wits student also credits the sport for allowing her the opportunity to grow meaningful friendships with like-minded people. Along with this, the fortune of being able to develop a greater understanding of problem-solving skills that improve her mental thinking ability.
Tournaments that she will always remember are the South African Junior Closed Chess Championship held last year. There, she place second overall which is a great achievement. “The other tournament that I will always remember is my very first University of South Africa Sports Chess Championship that was held in 2023, where I placed third overall and which gave me the opportunity to play in further tournaments.”
Along with these competitions, throughout her years of playing chess she has also competed in several school tournaments both in primary and high school, regional tournaments with Ekhuruleni chess club, played many nationals on the Ekhuruleni chess team, played in Closed Chess Championships through Ekhuruleni and most recently played the USSA Chess Championship for the University of the Witwatersrand.
“The biggest challenge I have faced would be financial constraints as chess is an expensive sport to play. Due to financial constraints I have not always been able to play at all the prestigious tournaments that I have made it to,” said Wallace.
This chess player’s ultimate dream is to achieve her South African colours as well as travel the world – playing against other strong players from various countries. Wallace is currently in training for a selection tournament to make the International University Sports Federation (FISU) chess team. She hopes to represent South Africa overseas against other universities from different countries.
In times of disappointment, she has always taken a step back and see how far she has come not just in the sport, but emotionally and mentally. “I ask myself would I be in the same position if I had not played chess? Every time the answer is ‘no’ which makes me push harder each day when playing chess.”
She hopes to especially inspire those who face financial constraints to look past the aspect of money and focus on other benefits chess can give them as money does not define one’s abilities to perform well.
To fellow sportswomen/men she implores you to never let hardship negatively impact your goals. “Rather let it inspire you to keep moving forward as ultimately hard work pays off regardless of the difficulties in life.”
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