The 17-year-old candidate master (CM) Rogov Matfey is the prestige section winner in this year’s edition of the Moja Chess Extravaganza.
Matfey, from Russia and of the International Chess Federation (Fide), went home with R50 000 in prize money after five days of intense chess action at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre.
This year the tournament, from 25 to 29 September, held a total prize fund of R274 500, says Dr Jabulani Mokoena, founder of the Moja Chess Club and chief organiser. The prize money was also spread from position one to position eight in the prestige, women’s, B, C, and D sections.
Top chess players from South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Russia, and Mozambique were amongst those who competed.
International master (IM) Gillian Bwalya from Zambia ended second in the prestige section; with IM Daniel Cawdery third; Dumisani Jakob Mnguni fourth; and CM Lyndon Bouah in fifth place. They are all from South Africa.
In the B section, South African Osia Phokela was the winner; with arena Fide master (AFM) Peter Letsoalo second; Talifhani Ndwambi in the third place; Pudungwane Lesole (Botswana) fourth; and Ettiene Kapp fifth. Letsoalo, Ndwambi, and Kapp are South African.
South African Women’s International Master (WIM) Jesse February is the winner in the women’s section. Second was WIM Anzel Laubscher, third Jacqui Grobbelaar, fourth Sizakele Masango, and fifth Denise Bouah, all from South Africa.
Vision that sport of chess grows
The organisers of the tournament, one of the most prestigious in the country, expressed appreciation for the support received by Northern Cape Chess, Frances Baard Chess, Sol Plaatje Municipality, and the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, who assisted in securing the this year.
Recently, Gayton McKenzie, minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, said, “We will broaden and fully support chess players. Chess has always been treated like some stepchild but it is about to take its rightful place in South Africa. Government and business should do better when it comes to promoting the game of chess.”
Mokoena says it is a vision that the sport of chess grows in South Africa, and that the country has at least six grandmasters over the next ten years.
Warren Ahjum, president of Northern Cape Chess, says it is a dream to make chess part of the school curriculum due to its educational benefits.
“Chess is an educational tool which assists in critical thinking and problem-solving, and aids with discipline and concentration,” emphasising they are proud to host a tournament of this calibre.
The tournament also serves as great motivation for players from the Northern Cape – the province with the highest rate of chess players in relation to the population, Ahjum remarks.
Furthermore, the South African team who participated in the Chess World Olympiad in Hungary, arrived in Kimberley directly from Europe to participate, adding to its prestige nature.
Ahjum says it is unfortunate that the tournament clashed with the national schools tournament held in Gqeberha, resulting in top junior players not able to attend. This will be communicated with the national chess structure to prevent clashes in the future, Ahjum says.
- Visit Moja Chess Club on Facebook for more information on the tournament.
