Club Mykonos in Langebaan played host to the thrilling West Coast/Mykonos Open chess tournament from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 May.
With six fiercely-contested sections the event brought some of the region’s brightest chess talents together, from young prodigies to seasoned masters.
The event was honoured by the presence of Chess South Africa president André Lewaks, who witnessed the thrilling battles across all sections. Special recognition was given to FIDE Master Dr Shabier Bhawoodien for his contributions to chess. Also, Charlton Mnyasta, one of South Africa’s top junior players who boasts an impressive FIDE rating of more than 2 200. Their participation added prestige to an already fiercely competitive tournament.
The following West Coast players shone; in the u-10 section Alex Akemdien, Madalitso Ramonyaluoe and Nathan Rehse all scored an impressive 4/5 points, with Akemdien claiming first place on tie breaks. Special awards were given to some West Coast chess players, Justin Oberholzer (King), Lienke van Collar (Queen), Jano Niemand (Best Junior), Erin Van Der Westhuizen and Amalia Warner (top Girls).
The u-12 section was dominated by Mason Stern, who achieved a perfect score, followed by Brian Johnson and Handre Wiggill. Special awards were given to our West Coast players, Daniel Erasmus (King), Faith van Wyk (Queen), Adrihan Viljoen (Best Junior) and Umaree Swarts (Top Girl). Meanwhile, Kyle Meissenheimer led the u-14 section with 4.5/5, ahead of Adriaan Vlok and Sophia Hagen. Special awards were given to the West Coast players Christiaan de Villiers (King), Madison Marinus (Queen), Mika van der Westhuizen (Best Junior), Dene Cilliers, Ashan Swartz and Melanique Johnson (Top Girls).
The Rapid section, played only on Saturday, saw Deoren Engelbrecht sweep the competition with a flawless 6/6, while Liam Schroeder and Wade de Kock secured second and third place, respectively. Special awards were given to West Coast players Shakier Kariem (King), Marilene van den Bergh (Queen), Yul Siebritz (Best Junior), Cayla Diedericks and Noelle Siebritz (Top Girls).
In the Advanced section, Bongani Chichava took top honours, with local stars Juan Nero and Matthew Opperman rounding out the podium. Special awards were given to the West Coast players Jenilo Booysen (King), Jamie-Lee Mitchells (Top Lady), Mischke Schoeman (Queen) and Jermaine Klaassens (Best Junior).
The Elite section was a battleground of strategy and skill, with West Coast’s very own Shane Klaase emerging victorious with 5/6 points and winning a cash prize of R3 000. Chalton Mnyasta and FIDE Master Shabier Bhawoodien claimed second and third prize, respectively. West Coast player Tyler Koopman was crowned King, while another, Shaundre Lewaks, earned the Best Junior title.
The tournament was a celebration of chess excellence, uniting players from across the region and province in a weekend of intense competition and camaraderie. Organisers praised the high level of play and sportsmanship, already looking forward to next year’s edition. The West Coast Chess Union and Mykonos Chess Club extend their heartfelt appreciation to all the players, volunteers, and supporters who made this event a resounding success. They also thank their sponsors the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Club Mykonos, Hort Geo Solutions, Mortgage Max and Rapid Networks.
