Cape Town Metro Schools Chess held its first Western Cape High Schools Chess tournament in 12 years at Dr GJ Joubert Primary School in Strand on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 April.
Dorothy Potgieter, General Secretary of the Cape Town Metro Schools Chess Committee, said all the regions of the province participated in the tournament.
“All the regions sent their selected players to compete in the following age groups: u-15 boys and girls, u-17 boys and girls and u-19 boys and girls. Each region’s top players in their age groups attended. A total of 425 chess players competed in this tournament,” added Potgieter.
The Cape Town Metro Schools Chess had district play-offs and the top chess players of each age group were selected to take part in the Cape Town Metro Schools Chess individual tournament.
“From there, we selected the top 25 players from each age group to represent Cape Town Metro at the Western Cape Schools Chess tournament, from 57 high schools in the Metro only and many more from the other regions.”
Parel Vallei High School, Somerset College, Helderberg High School, Strand High School and Curro Somerset West were the schools from the Helderberg that competed in the tournament.
Zaskia Ziegers from Helderberg High School clinched second place in her age group with a rating of 1129. “The other Helderberg players fared very well. All players were rated between 900 and 2169,” said Potgieter.
She thanked Dr GJ Joubert Primary School for its security, staff support and hospitality.
“Metro Schools Chess would like to implore the high schools in Helderberg to encourage their learners to play chess,” she added. “Many primary school learners stop playing when they advance to high school.”
