Boy wonder floors elders
Kings, queens and pawns were the order of the day when the Buffalo City Sports Academy hosted its first annual Sheldon Marillier chess tournament at AW Barnes Primary School in East London on Saturday.
With this being the first tournament, only two schools participated. A team of 18 young chess players from AW Barnes Primary took on the 24-member team from Egoli-based New Generations Primary School.
The two schools spent the last six months being coached by six chess players.
The coaches, still at school themselves, are in Grade 11. Of the six, four made the 2018 Border chess team.
The 42 players – ranging from grades 2 to 7 – battled it out for top honours. The pupils played as individuals, with the winning school being determined by who won the overall tournament. Each played four rounds, with the top eight going through to the quarter finals.
All the pupils’ parents were there to support them.
The overall winner was seven-year-old Tyler Botha. Tyler, a Grade 2 pupil at another East London school who has spent the last six months training with the AW Barnes team, was the youngest player in the tournament. In his semifinal game he beat his opponent in less than 60 seconds.
The final was a nailbiting showdown, but Tyler edged ahead and beat 10-year-old Cedric Smit of AW Barnes Primary with 15 minutes remaining.
“I want to be the best chess player ever and one day I will beat the coaches and teach them not to mess with me,” Tyler quipped after his win.
Sponsor Sheldon Marillier was also in attendance and handed out the prizes to the players.
This was one of the academy’s many mass participation projects as it continues to empower communities and build future leaders.
Buffalo City Sports Academy project manager Baron Bosman said: “The tournament will grow next year as we will be roping in more schools.
“Already in the pipeline are Cranberry and Parkside Primary Schools.”