Nine-year old king of Knysna chess event

KNYSNA CHESS NEWS - The Knysna High Schools Chess Tournament ended on a high note last Wednesday, 28 April, with participation numbers maintained for the duration of the tournament.

The Knysna Initiative for Learning and Teaching (Kilt) collaborated with the Western Cape Education Department's Safe Schools Programme and the South African Police Service to deliver the 2021 Knysna High Schools Chess Tournament.

The holiday chess collaboration programme rounded up four high schools in Knysna to compete against each other with Terry Quirk of the Eden Chess Union, who acted as the arbiter of the tournament, providing invaluable advice on protocols and structure.

The three-day tournament, played at Percy Mdala High School, kicked off on Monday 26 April and the finals took place on Wednes-day 28 April. The planning team and supporting staff worked extremely hard to implement Covid-19 protocols and ensure that everyone could enjoy the chess. All the players represented their schools with much energy and passion.

The tournament's top chess players were, from left: Anoxolo Nkangune (2nd), Jacobs Eugeniel (1st) and Rutendo Mabgwe (third).

Special mention goes to winner Jacobs Eugeniel, who at the age of nine was the only primary school learner present at the tournament, representing Fraaisig Primary School. He was especially invited because of his chess skills and he did not disappoint, emerging tops above all of the learners with a total of 39 points, winning six out of seven games.

"I am happy to have won the tournament. I look forward to the next tournament. I liked playing with many people and we must keep playing because chess is fun," said a chuffed Eugeniel.

In second place was Anoxolo Nkangune (17), a Grade 12 learner of Concordia High School. He won six of the seven games and accrued 29 points. In third place was Rutendo Mabgwe (16), a Grade 11 learner from Knysna High School. She won five of her seven games with a total of 21,5 points.

"On behalf of the Circuit 4 and Proactive Principals, I would like to thank Kilt, WCED, Saps, and Terry Quirk for organising and sponsoring the first schools chess tournament of this kind during the autumn vacation," said Nicholas Njozela, Percy Mdala High School principal.

"2020/21 was an incredibly challenging period, particularly for sporting activities. This programme was instrumental in ensuring learners are kept occupied in a different way to contact sport. I was taken by the enthusiasm and energy displayed by both boys and girls over the three days."

Kilt was also proud of what was achieved with the tournament. Managing director at Kilt, Sandy Ueckermann, said their main goal for the holiday chess collaboration programme is to keep as many learners occupied as possible and avoid passiveness, negative activities and negative influences, while developing their chess skills.

"We want to develop the game of chess in Knysna schools and create a system that allows schools to interact regionally," she said. "The tournament aims to grow talented young players by showing them a new avenue and promote critical thinking and sharpen IQ in our learners."

Tournament arbiter Terry Quirk congratulates the young winner, Jacobs Eugeniel.