Helderberg scholars were among hundreds from across the province who showcased their board-game skills in the anticipated 2023 Western Cape Schools Individual Chess Championships in George earlier this month (May).
The tournament was held at Glenwood House Primary School on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May, and attracted some of the Western Province’s best young chess players age 6 to 12.
“All regions of the Western Cape sent their selected players, boys and girls, to play in the Western Cape Schools Chess individual provincial tournament,” says Dorothy Potgieter, the Cape Town Metro Schools Chess General Secretary. “Each region’s top players in their age groups attended. A total of 550 chess players participated.”
Earlier this year Cape Town Metro Schools Chess hosted the district play-offs as a qualifying tournament for the Cape Town Metro Schools Chess individuals, which saw many young grand masters in the making compete against across various age categories.
“From there we selected the top 25 players from each age group to represent Cape Town Metro at the Western Cape Schools Chess Individual Championship,” Potgieter said.
Cape Town Metro claimed 34 of the 80 top 10 places, and of the 34 top medals bagged 12 of the decorations awarded represented the Helderberg.
“The Helderberg needs to develop their under seven and nine players,” Potgieter said. “To aid this we are planning to start a Helderberg Chess Club as well as a chess development plan working with Libraries and Sports and Recreation.”
