The St Helena Primary School has emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the chessboard after its young players delivered a remarkable performance at the 2026 Free State Closed Chess Championships.

Hosted by Lejweleputswa Chess on Saturday 25 July, the prestigious invitation-only tournament brought together the strongest young chess players from across the Mangaung Metro, Lejweleputswa, and Thabo Mofutsanyana districts.

A total of 181 players, ranging from U8 to U20, competed for provincial honours and the opportunity to represent the Free State at the Mzansi Youth Inter-Provincial Chess Championships later this year.

St Helena was represented by 10 invited learners, with six finishing inside the top 10 of their respective age groups.

The school’s standout performers were Chereé Gerber (first place, Free State U10 champion); Olam Majola (first place, Free State U12 champion); Makhosanda Pepile (third: U12 boys); Zoe Majola (fifth: U12 boys); Ibilola Adeyemi (seventh: U12 girls); and Chante Gerber (fourth: U14 girls).

The school’s success is closely linked to the work of Memme Majola, secretary of Lejweleputswa Chess and chess coordinator at St Helena.

Majola established the Lejweleputswa Legends Chess Club in 2025 with the aim of identifying, nurturing and developing young chess talent throughout the district.

Her ambition is to see more young chess players from Lejweleputswa progress through the ranks to represent the Free State – and ultimately South Africa – with distinction.

The latest success at the Free State Closed Championships suggests that vision is already beginning to take shape. The players who finished in the top 10 have earned the opportunity to represent the Free State at the Mzansi Youth Inter-Provincial Chess Championships, which will be held from 14 to 20 December at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein.

For St Helena’s young chess stars, the next move is already on the board. With six players now among the province’s best, the competitors prepare for this next big challenge.

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