Young East London chess ace, Tumi Balura of Fort Grey on the outskirts of East London, landed at the King Phalo Airport recently after representing South Africa at the 2025 African Schools Chess Championships held in Kenya.
The 10-year-old Balura is following in the footsteps of another young East London chess sensation, Azo Maseti, who also represented the country in national and international chess competitions.
Both Balura and Maseti are the products of the Rotary Club of East London’s continued support and development of chess involving school learners in the Buffalo City Metro region.
Over the years, the Rotary Club of East London has steadfastly supported the development of chess in Buffalo City, reaching over 2,000 learners in nearly 100 schools, targeting primary schools in rural areas.
The chess development initiative has benefitted hundreds of learners from disadvantaged areas, including Fort Grey, Dyam Dyam, Kiwane and Ncera villages.
Rotary Club of East London (RCEL) Public Image Chairperson Pam Way highlighted the foundational role of veteran coach Clive Delbridge, who helped launch the first chess club in Dyam Dyam village, and later extended his coaching to Fort Grey and Ncera village.
