Last week Stellenbosch played host to the inaugural African continental stage of the World Schools’ Team Chess Championship (WSTC).

Young chess players from across the continent put their skills on display at the Coetzenburg Centre from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 July. Three South African teams participated with two of the teams finishing in the top 10.

The championship is organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), with Freedom Holding Corp. serving as the general pPartner.

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Going abroad

Schalk Wiehan van der Merwe, manager of the Welgemoed Primary School team, said the competition was an exciting and emotional ride for the learners. Welgemoed was the top South African school, ending third overall.

“Emotions were high [on Friday] because of all the excitement. More than the tournament, the kids enjoyed staying over at the boarding house, the game rooms, and meeting other players,” said Van der Merwe.

The Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School team from Uganda took gold, followed by Kenya’s Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School in second place. All three teams qualified for the Grand Final in December.

Last week’s championships were the first held on the continent. The next continental tournament will take place in the Costa Rica in August, and the European leg will take place in Armenia before the World Schools’ Team Championship.

Uganda dominates

According to Patrick Mukasa, coach of Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary and founder of the Kamwokya Teens Chess Club and Academy, he was humbled by his team’s performance.

“I believe in my boys because we are the top seed, the best in the country, the best in the region. These are kids from an academy in the ghetto, disadvantaged kids, vulnerable to all the problems that come with that,” Mukasa said.

“I trained them so that they can get the opportunities that come with chess. Chess is improving them, they are moving around the world, and I’m so proud that wonderful brains from such areas can serve our country and the entire world.

The Ugandan team did not concede a single game during the tournament.

In the fourth place was Holy Cross Primary from George. Despite not making it onto the podium, Teval Lumpuru explained the tournament was a success. “It is the first time the learners competed on this level and we did excellent. We really exceeded our expectations,” he said.

According to Yvette Pringle, the Holy Cross players barely slept in the lead up to the tournament.

The tournament was all games and fun. As part of the tournament, the players enjoyed chess quizzes, book talks, a drumming workshop and even a cooking masterclass.

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