EVATON.- Emfuleni Vaal Chess Association hosted a rated chess event which was held in Evaton, at Mafatsana Community Hall recently.

The main purpose of the event to get athletes/players to get them rated by South African Chess Federation an enable them or their parents to can follow up with their progress by checking their history on Chess SA ratings database.

This was revealed to Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport by Sedibeng chess ambassador Lefu Lepota.

Lepota said he is delighted with the ongoing positive progress in Sedibeng areas where the Emfuleni Vaal Chess Association (NPO) is fostering mass participation in sports respectively in chess as well as teaching learners at schools how to play the intellectual mind game chess.

He added that, there is more potential in young chess athletes and wishes to see the department of education making this sporting code compulsory on certain school grades. He believes this will in turn increase number of female participants and reduce their low rate of participation.

He hailed this event a great successful with senior male section received awards for their individual effort on the day.

The senior male players who received awards were, Vusi Hadebe (gold), Sipho Mofokeng (silver) and Reabetsoe Mokele (bronze).

While in senior female section players who received awards were, Retshepile Motaung (gold), Mathabo Mofokeng (silver) and Babalwa Mduzane (bronze). In junior section male players who received awards were, Lerato Gwebu (gold), Bokamoso Tsotetsi (silver) and Poloko Sefafe (bronze), while junior section female players were, Merriam Kekana (gold), Nompilo Mkhize (silver) and Yolanda Mbaswana (bronze).

Nhlanhla Mkhanazi was named the youngster player of the tournament.Lepota made a special request that all community members who plays chess as well as those who want to, to visit their Emfuleni nearest libraries to make inquires.

“We will like to challenge parents to encourage their children to participate in chess. This is one sporting code that from part of academics because it required lot of thinking.  My humble plea to parents is to allow their children to play chess and they won’t regret,” said Lepota.