SA Junior Closed announced

We have just received the following news via email from Warren Ahjum, the interim Secretary of the Chess SA Youth Commission:

"We are proud to confirm, herewith, the selection of players from your region to participate in the South African Junior Closed Chess Championships 2015 (SAJCCC 2015). The SAJCCC 2015 will be hosted in Tshwane, at the Waterkloof High School, from the 3rd to the 11th of April 2015. Kindly take note that it is the responsibility of the Region to inform each player of his/her selection and their subsequent registration for the Championship. Registration should be done online at www.sajccc.co.za.

Attached please find the list of players from your region who qualified for the Championship and the SAJCCC 2015 circular, containing important information about the event.

We would like to congratulate the Region on the selection of the players and wish them a successful tournament. For any information regarding the SAJCCC 2015 please do not hesitate to contact the Local Organising Committee."

Please contact Kevin Chetty in the event of any errors, omissions or queries.
PS. here is an amended list of KZN players as at 23rd February.

Chess SA junior selection 2015

Each year Chess SA publishes its junior selection policy, which doesn't change much from one year to the next. The policy explains how juniors get selected for international events, such as the African Youth championships or the World Youth championships.

Here is the Chess SA junior selection policy for 2015 (10 pages, pdf format).

African Youth medallists

Naseem Essa, Aarti Datharam and Cailin Chetty, with their medals

News from the African Youth chess championships held recently in Monastir (Tunisia) is that Aarti Datharam won the gold medal in the under 08 girls, and that Cailin Chetty and Naseem Essa won silver and bronze medals repectively in the under 12 open section.

Congratulations to them on their success!

JZ Chess 2014 results

The 2014 JZ Chess event took place in Nkandla on 19th December 2014 on a blazing hot day. I was quite interested to see that the presidential security team were at the venue before the arbiters! About 9 am everybody had to leave the venue so that the bomb sniffer dogs could check the marquee. We then re-entered through a SAPS security checkpoint, everybody went through a metal detector and bags were X-rayed. The playing venue was a large marquee on the sports field, where all the chess boards were set up. It took a while to get power sorted out from a mobile generator and get all the players names entered onto the pairings computer. Lots of players entered the open section on the day and extra boards had to be set up in the marquee. We had about 140 players in the open section and another 120 players in the junior teams event, which filled the marquee to capacity.

We played 4 rounds at a leisurely pace in the junior teams event, and it quickly became apparent that the hosts from Nkandla had fielded a very strong team. They won all their matches, scoring 34.5 points out of a possible 40, a full 10 game points ahead of everybody else!

The open section was running a little bit behind schedule, and we had to play round 5 at blitz speed in view of the imminent arrival of President Zuma. At about 4 pm a massive storm hit Nkandla and I don't know how the players managed to play their round 5 games, as it was so dark in the marquee. The arbiters table was near the door and got flooded, so we had to add up the top placed finishers on a manual basis! The organisers then provided some flood lights so that we could see the prize giving and the presidential speech, which took place around 5 pm. I believe it was shown on TV by the SABC later that evening.

After successfully drying off all the equipment, I have compiled the results, which were as follows:

JZ Chess Open 2014 results
JZ Junior Team Challenge results

JZ Open is going BIG

Sandile Xulu reports: Arguably the most popular tournament in South Africa – the JZ CHESS OPEN - is going to be BIG in 2014! There are sufficient reasons to claim that this tournament has been key to the development of chess in the rural areas of the country. Children from rural areas today have got an opportunity to play and reap the benefits of chess equally to those of the elite. Thanks to President Jacob Zuma’s vision and continued support, his love for this wonderful game will have a great impact in many children’s lives and so to the future of our beloved country.

The 6th edition of the JZ CHESS OPEN will take place in the President’s home village of Nkandla on Friday 19th December 2014. The tournament will be played in two sections. The first section is the JZ Junior Chess Teams Championship. Entries for this team event are restricted to teams from the 11 districts of Kwa-Zulu Natal. These teams (each of 10 juniors) have been selected by their federation officials.

29th November 2014 - more than 100 players turned up at Newcastle High School,
 for a chance to represent Amajuba District in Nkandla

Then there is the JZ OPEN SECTION, the section where everyone can enter – free of charge!

The JZ open flyer and JZ open entry form are available here. Remember - the closing date for entries is 17th December 2014.

For more information, contact Sandile Xulu.

Chess moves to Abalindi

Chess featured recently in the Daily News when a garden chess set was installed at the Abalindi Welfare Society in Inanda. The delighted orphans also received a gift of chess sets to promote the royal game.

Mbongeni Sithole, Kales Chetty (from the main sponsors, LDM Consulting), unknown, unknown,
Sandile Xulu (president of KZN Chess), unknown, Erick Takawira (head coach KZN Chess)

Ethekwini youth championship 2014

The 2014 Ethekwini youth chess championships took place at Northwood High school from 8th to 11th October 2014. All the players who had excelled at the earlier trials event were invited, but many of our top players were notable absentees. Here are some photos that I managed to snap in round 3:

Aaron Jude Naidu gets the look from Dayaan Parthiephal

Tremaine Naidoo vs Viashna Hansraj, behind them is Kevaalin Rapeti

Shayur Hansraj won the u18 trophy, behind him is Jivorn Reddy

Congratulations to the following champions:
under 20 - Sphelele Makhanya
under 18 - Shayur Hansraj
under 16 - Shivar Gopaulsingh
under 14 - Sachin Ramgoon
under 12 - Karmishta Moodley
under 10 - Aarti Datharam
under 08 - Kamran Naidoo

Here are the final results after round 7:
under 8/10
under 12
under 14
under 16
under 18/20

For more information, contact Divesh Sookdeo

Uthungulu Youth champs

After holding a successful trials tournament in August to pick the Uthungulu youth teams, it was decided to hold another rated tournament in September, to sort out the board orders. With only 66 players, a smaller venue at Brackenham Primary was used for the championships. The time control was also increased (to 60/60) so that players could record all their moves, something that was new to a lot of the players. The most common queries were on how to record a promotion. Thanks once again to Lisa Griffiths and her team for inviting me back to Richards Bay for this pleasant event.

Lisa Griffiths gives the "start play" command, the under 14 players are in the foreground

Kabelo Mthethwa vs Lindelwa Nxumalo, behind them is Luyanda Mbambo vs Mxolisi Ncanana,
you can also see Kelvin Aidan and Sandile Mdunge in the picture

u12's Gabriel Gounden, Siyabonga Mqaise and Keane Reddy concentrating on their notation

 u12 players Uvash Harrilall on board 26, Tlhoni Tsotetsi on board 25

Top u14 players, Nikash Baboolal vs Sandile Mdunge, Sandile won yet again

Best under 16, Siyanda Khumalo, deep in thought

The final results were as follows:
under 12 championship
under 14 championship
under 16 championship
under 20 championship

For more information, contact Lisa Griffiths

Giant chess sets for KZN schools

Sandile Xulu reports: 

On Tuesday 2nd September 2014 the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Ms Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni expressed a wish that, in each and every new school to be built in the Province of KwaZulu Natal, there will be a garden chess set.

Speaking to students, educators and business persons at Stanger South High School in Ilembe District, the MEC announced that she wants chess to be rolled out to all schools in KZN. She was talking in the school assembly before walking into a classroom where grade 10 students had their first chess lesson. It was a first-hand experience of ‘classroom chess’ for the MEC as well. As part of her visit to the school, the MEC donated scientific calculators to further enhance mathematics and motivate students to take science subjects.

President Jacob Zuma has repeatedly made a call in support of chess being introduced to all schools in South Africa. Through his own initiative, the Jacob G. Zuma Foundation, President Zuma has launched a program called ‘Chess-in-Schools’ which will see many schools benefit from having a school chess program.

KZN Chess Association President Sandile Xulu together with Ilembe Chess Association chairperson Welcome Gwamanda conducted the chess lessons. Problem was, students were so interested in chess that they did not want the session to end!

The MEC donated some chess sets to help the school start their own chess program. Business people also pledged-in their support to make sure that chess becomes a success story in Stanger South High School.

For more information, contact Sandile Xulu.

ILembe Youth Trials, 16th-17th August 2014

This weekend saw the last of this year's youth trials, held over 2 days at Umhlali Preparatory School in the ILembe district. Close to a hundred players took part and enjoyed 6 rounds of rated chess. The surprising winner of the under 20 section (and best under 16 player) was Yasheel Maharaj, who scored 5 out of 6. He drew with top seed Miguel Murugan in the last round, and defeated number 2 seed Gregory Hall with a very nice piece sacrifice in round 3 - unfortunately his game score was not legible so I cannot show you this game. Best under 18 player was Llewellyn Iyer and best under 20 player was Miguel Murugan. Here are some photos I took of the under 20 section:

Llewelyn Iyer vs Yasheel Maharaj on board 1

Gregory Hall, Richard Paterson and Yasheel Maharaj

Top seed Miguel Murugan vs Gregory Hall, James Hulett on next board

Not surprisingly the under 14 section was won by top seed Sachin Reddy, with a perfect score. Sachin has been chosen to represent South Africa in this age category. Some photos of the under 14's:

Kayler Hulett and Frederick Paynter in u14 section

Dylan Atherstone went on to win this game vs Paynter

The other section winners were Cameron Evetts (under 12), Jamie Evetts (under 10) and Kiegan Padayachee (under 8).

Here are the final results for each age group:

under 8/10 results

under 12 results

under 14 results

under 16/18/20 results

For more information, contact Welcome Gwamanda.

Uthungulu Youth Trials - team photos

combined under 10/12 teams

players sponsored by BHP Billiton

under 16 team

under 18 team

under 20 team

Uthungulu Youth Trials, 2nd-3rd August 2014

I was invited to Richards Bay as chief arbiter of the Uthungulu Youth Trials by Lisa Griffiths, the chairperson of the Uthungulu Chess Association. Her committee did a good job in organising the tournament, setting up the playing venue, keeping track of the scores and so forth. I really liked their table numbers, which were easy to see at a distance. 

On the first day we had a tournament for the under 12 players. There were no defaults and the juniors played so quickly that I was able to do pairings sooner than expected, so we finished the day early. As there were not enough under 10 players for a full team, the best under 10 players were included with the best under 12 players for team selections.

On the second day we had a full house of players from under 14's to under 20's. Despite lots of late entries we started on time, but then ran late as there were so many defaulters (players who had entered but who failed to pitch up) who had to be removed from the draw before round 2. We later caught up on the playing schedule and held the selectors meeting and prize-giving on time.

On both days there were a lot of new and inexperienced players, with a surprising number of games ending in draws due to stalemate or the 50-move rule (when trying to mate with K+Q vs K or K+R vs K). That's something for Head coach Makhosonke to sort out before Nationals in January! Here are some pictures from both days of the youth trials:

Stefan Britz vs Mongezi Shoba, they both scored 6/7 and tied for 1st place

Tlhoni Tsotetsi also scored 6/7 in the under 12

Khandisiwe Mbambo

Scorers Nishi and Michelle were kept busy

Lisa Griffiths with best girls Lungelo Vilakazi and Londeka Buthelezi

This game ended in stalemate!

Sandile Mdunge vs Nikash Baboolal, the top 2 seeds in under 14

Here are the final results for each age group:

under 8/10/12 results
under 14 results
under 16/18/20 results

For more information, contact Lisa Griffiths.

A plethora of medals!

The KZN team at the SA Schools championships held in Bloemfontein from 10th to 12th July 2014 brought home a plethora of medals! Here is a list of our proud medallists:

Full list of top ten places:

u09 girls
1st Aarti Datharam
2nd Diya Datharam

u09 boys
none

u11 girls
2nd Karmishta Moodley
4th Santham Moodley
5th Priyasha Naidoo

u11 boys
1st Naseem Ahmed Essa
3rd Eli-Jordan Govender

u13 girls
1st Zahra Kara
5th Dayaan Parthiephal

u13 boys
1st Sachin Reddy
2nd Cailin Chetty
4th Aaron Jude Naidu

GOLD
 Aarti Datharam
 Naseem Ahmed Essa
 Zahra Kara
 Sachin Reddy
 Keyana Padayachee
 Kenyon Padayachee








SILVER
 Diya Datharam
 Karmishta Moodley
 Cailin Chetty
 Saiyuri Naidoo
 Nobuhle Ndunakazi










BRONZE
 Eli-Jordan Govender
 Kyran Appanna
 Viashna Hansraj









u15 girls
1st Keyana Padayachee
2nd Saiyuri Naidoo

u15 boys
5th Shivar Gopaulsingh
6th Tarendra Moodley
8th Liam Moodley

u17 girls
2nd Nobuhle Ndunakazi

u17 boys
1st Kenyon Padayachee
3rd Kyran Appanna
4th Jivorn Reddy

u19 girls
3rd Viashna Hansraj
4th Caitlin Chetty

u19 boys
8th Kieron Dowie

Ethekwini Youth Trials, 8th July 2014

The trials for the Ethekwini region took place from 5th to 8th July 2014. This was a gruelling event of 9 rounds to select the players who will participate in the KZN Youth championships (later this year) and in the SA Junior Chess championships (in Kimberley, January 2015).

Here are the results after 9 rounds for each section:

under 20 results

under 16 results

under 14 results

under 12 results

under 10 results

Here is the first circular about Kimberley chess.

For more information, contact Divesh Sookdeo.

KZN Schools championship, 28th June 2014

A selection tournament to pick the KZN team to go to the SA Schools championship in Bloemfontein was held on 28th June 2014. Thanks to National Convener Mr Vicky Magu for attending this event and to Chess SA for sponsoring the costs of the tournament.

Results of open section

Results of girls section

Here are some details on the chess event in Bloemfontein.
For more information, contact Bongani Mkhunya.

Youth Challenge, 16th June 2014

A one-day rapid tournament held to celebrate Youth Day 2014 was played at Berea Primary School. Winner of the challenge was Shivar Gopaulsingh.

Here are the 2014 Youth Challenge results.