Amajuba tournament, 9th August 2014

Mashumi Nhlapo reports from Newcastle: Amajuba Chess staged its inaugural district tournament on Saturday 9th August 2014 at Newcastle Recreation Center. There were 52 entrants from all over the Amajuba District. The tournament was divided into two categories, namely an under-20 section with 40 entrants and an over-20 section with 12 entrants. The winner in the under-20 section was Maseko Nkululeko; winner of the over-20 section was Nxumalo Nhlakanipho; the best female player was Magagula Ayanda and the best young player was Mnguni Lwandle.

There was tough competition in the under 20 section

Lwandle Mnguni receiving Best Young Player prize
 from Lulama Nqubuka (right) and Blessing Zambuko

Nkululeko Maseko (in black top) won first prize in under 20 section

Nhlakanipho Nxumalo (middle) won first prize in over 20 section

Prize winners and Amajuba Chess committee members.
 Ayanda Magagula (second from right in front row) won Best Female prize

For more information, contact Mashumi Nhlapo.

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.

World Youth - 50 days to go!

The 2014 World Youth Chess Championships starts in Durban in 50 days! The venue will be the International Convention Centre, the same venue that we used for the 2013 SA Junior Chess Championships in December 2013.

For more information, go to the 2014 World Youth Chess Championships home page.

Mandela 67 mins chess - report by Sandile Xulu

The inaugural MANDELA 67MIN CHESS was held over two days on 19th to 20th July 2014 at Berea Primary School in Durban SA. From as young as 5 years old to more senior citizens, from amateurs to International Masters, from Jo'burg to East London, from Malawi to Zimbabwe, black and white all descended down to South Africa’s warmest place, Ethekwini – all to play in the very first chess tournament named ‘MANDELA 67MIN CHESS’. No one wanted to miss out on this historic chess tournament, the first one ever to be played in honour of one man who was larger than life, gone but certainly not forgotten, a man who dedicated his life to the struggle of a better life for all – Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Thabiso Junior Ramatsepiso (12yrs) from JHB shakes hands with Lance Leslie Smith (11yrs) DBN

What is unique and special about this tournament is the fact that 67 minutes is actually being set on the chess clock – What this means is that each player will emulate Mandela’s ‘long walk to freedom’ on the chess board by taking only 67min to conquer their opponent. “Chess is life” - just like life, chess has got its ups and downs, but if you play well you will emerge victorious. In chess the playing field is leveled, chess is indeed a great equalizer.

Honour and pride, all to play for

The tournament ‘MANDELA 67MIN CHESS’ will be played every year around the month of July. The idea is to align this tournament with Madiba’s month of birth – July, as people around the world celebrate ‘Mandela Day’ on 18 July by giving of their time to do something for others in order to make the world a better place for all – KZN CHESS ASSOCIATION will use this chess initiative to fundraise for the disadvantaged community schools and for special projects aimed at promoting women and physically challenged chess. MANDELA 67MIN CHESS is aimed at promoting unity, positive change and advancing the ideals of a nation living together in harmony while at the same time using the opportunity to further popularize chess in South Africa.

Happy faces after a struggle of 67 minutes

Youngsters can never complain when paired with an older opponent, age has got no advantage whatsoever when it comes to chess. The Mandela 67MIN CHESS is a rated tournament and open to all regardless of ones rating or age, however, age group prizes are awarded. The overall winner walks away with a gold medal, a big trophy and some of course a handsome cheque! 

Age is just a number – Thabiso Junior Ramatseliso 12yrs (right) mesmerized one of the veteran chess players Zithulele Petros Ntombela (left) with his solid moves, after a long walk - the young Thabiso walked away with a win!

We read that former President Nelson Mandela was a chess player and that he used to play a lot of chess while he was jailed in Robben Island. In fact, he even ordered a chess book. Many political prisoners also played chess - President Jacob Zuma who served his 10 years in Robben Island is amongst those who became passionate about the game of chess. President Zuma’s continued support in promoting chess has contributed in popularizing chess especially in SA’s townships and rural areas.

Joseph Mwale (left) Malawi international now residing in KZN versus IM Rodwell Makoto (right) Zimbabwe international now residing in Jo'burg. Joseph edged Rodwell on tiebreak to claim the 1st MANDELA 67MIN CHESS trophy as the two ended with a score of 6.5/7

Those who missed out on this year’s tournament will have to wait another 12 months before they can make their names in the history book. The organizers will have a headache finding a bigger venue as numbers are expected to increase in next year’s tournament. Sponsors are encouraged to come on board and support this initiative led by KZN CHESS ASSOCIATION.

Everybody wanted a MANDELA 67MIN CHESS T-shirt

The convener of Commonwealth Chess Championships 2013 from Nelson Mandela Bay – Dr Brian van Zyl - provided much needed support, his generous sponsorship made it possible for KZN CHESS ASSOCIATION to launch this tournament.

Sandile Xulu – President of KZN Chess Association (left), Mrs Williams – Principal of Berea Primary School (right)

Many thanks to all the sponsors, partners and individuals who joined hands with KZN CHESS ASSOCIATION for making the inaugural MANDELA 67MIN CHESS such a great success.

Sponsors and partners: Berea Primary School, Dr Brian van Zyl, Mr Rajiv Jaynath – Bhekaphambili Geo-Contractors, Tsogo Sun – Garden Court, Vellan Moodley - ‘In Your Dreams’, Erick Takawira Chess initiative

Article by – Sandile Xulu

Mandela day puzzle solutions

Black to move resigned. On Saturday I asked you what did the players miss? The answer was that the spectator saw that 1... Qf1+ forces 2.Kxf1 with a most unusual stalemate position.

Sunday's puzzle, with Black to move, was more difficult. From the diagram, if 1... Rxe6 2.c4 Re8 3.a6 c6 I asked what White could do to escape his troubles. The answer was that White has a quite astonishing win by 4.c5!! cxd5 (4... dxc5 5.d6 and the Bishop is blocked) 5.c6 d4 6.c7 Bxb7 7.axb7 d3 8.b8=Q d2 9.Qxe8+ Kxe8 10.c8=Q+ and 11.Ke2. White's c-pawn turned out to be a fearsome warrior!!

Mandela 67 minutes chess day 2

Congratulations to Joseph Mwale on taking the first place trophy on tiebreak, ahead of IM Rodwell Makoto. Here are the Mandela 67 mins chess final results.

The following diagram is from a round 6 game that I found fascinating. It was between Craig Atkinson and Nadean Gopaulsingh, with Black to move. What would you play here?

Nadean correctly played 1... Rxe6! based on the pin 2.dxe6 Bxb7 winning for Black. Craig had seemingly overlooked this, as he took a couple of minutes to come up with 2. c4! cutting off the Bishop from the a8 square. The game then ended 2... Re8 3. a6 Ra8? 4. a7 Ke7 5. Rxc7+ Kd8 6. Rxh7 Kc8 7. Ke3 and White won. Watching the game I thought that 3... c6 worked, because of 4.a7 cxd5 5.Rb8 dxc4 etc, but I had also overlooked something. The all-seeing computer tells me that 3... Bd3 is best and results in an equal position. The position looks so simple, but is full of tricks - so what does White play after 3... c6 to escape? Answers on Monday.

Mandela 67 minutes chess day 1

Day 1 has gone smoothly, with 88 keen chess players competing, including visitors from Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. Here are the pairings for round 5, with the top seeds about to fight for the honours.

Here is an amusing episode from round 2. With both players down to their last few seconds, Black decided to resign here, seeing that Qh8 mate was inevitable. White shook his hand and then a spectator pointed out something unusual in this position.

What did both the players miss here? Another puzzle tomorrow, with answers on Monday.

Here are some photos taken during round 3:

board 2 Brighton Mthunzi vs Henry Oliver

board 8 Sayen Naidu deep in thought

board 10 Khetha Mngadi vs Erick Takawira

from left, Saiyuri Naidoo, Charlotte Millard, Riasha Singh, Kshanik Dayaram, Joshua Pillay

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