Two chess wizards from Heathfield High School, Munkia Kebolo and Kyle Kayter, are looking forward to making their school proud after hearing the news that they have been officially selected to represent the Western Cape team in the upcoming 2026 Mzansi Youth Chess Championship.
The tournament starts on Sunday 13 December and concludes on Saturday 19 December.
National honours
This event brings together young chess players from across South Africa’s provinces to compete for national honours, showcase strategic skills, and develop future chess champions.
Grade 11 learner Munkia and recent alumnus Kyle, who matriculated from the school last year, have both clinched highly sought-after spots in the regional u-20 squad.
Their selection follows a rigorous review process by the Western Cape Chess Association, which announced a revised list of replacement players to finalise their provincial teams after an initial round of selections in September.
Munkia says he plays chess on his computer most days to practise.
Heathfield High’s chess team has been on an exciting winning streak over the past few months.
The school’s chess team previously secured a historic bronze medal at the 16th Jamie Tindill Chess Tournament hosted by Wynberg Boys’ High School on Monday 3 August.
This result comes after a standout performance at the District South Top Schools Chess Tournament earlier in July, where Heathfield claimed gold in both the u-19 Mixed and u-17 Girls sections.
Best players
“It was a tough experience and it featured some of the best players across the Cape peninsula. We did our best but the aim was to honour the memory of Jamie Tindill and it taught us that, to be the best, you have to beat the best players in the field,” Munkia said during the Jamie Tindill Chess Tournament.
The selection criteria enforce strict performance standards across the province.
Half of the team members earned their places solely through their Chess SA ratings, while the remaining 50% were chosen based on their Grand Prix (GPX) standings, requiring a minimum of 20 competitive games played throughout the year.
For both Munkia and Kyle, this call-up serves as validation of their long hours over the board and absolute dedication to the sport.
Heathfield High School teacher Mee-Chay Jacobs said she is beaming with pride for the pairs’ selection.
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