Provincial glory for Fort Grey chess enthusiasts
In a remarkable display of talent and dedication, pupils from Fort Grey Public School represented Buffalo City region and excelled at the Eastern Cape Chess Championship held in Jeffreys Bay from October 4-8.
The competition brought together chess enthusiasts from seven regions in the province and the event included seven intense rounds of competition.
The Fort Grey chess club, guided by their coach, Khanyiso Petse, were vying for top honours in their respective categories and have landed two players in the top 10 for the provincial team, with two more players as reserves.
The results are as follows;
Under 8s:
Azo Maseti secured a commendable fourth place.
Under 10s:
Luphelo Manqunyana displayed his skills and clinched the 12th position.
Tumi Balura emerged as a rising star, securing a notable position.
Under 12s:
Kungawo Planga achieved an impressive second place.
Under 14s:
Oyisa Mnyila exhibited his chess prowess and secured the seventh position.
Petse said: “These dedicated pupils have not only worked hard to shine in the regional chess arena but have also achieved the prestigious status of being provincial players.”
Since 2021, the Rotary Club of East London, in collaboration with ITEC, has been assisting the school with developing literacy.
This collaboration has seen books, teacher training and the construction of reading corners initiated at the school.
In 2021, Rotary also enabled the establishment of the chess club among other clubs established at surrounding schools.
Janet Young from Rotary said: “The Fort Grey chess players have shown a great aptitude for chess. They frequently play in local tournaments, have beaten top East London schools, and often host league games at the school.
“Petse was recently voted the best chess coach in East London.
“Our vision for Fort Grey School is to develop it further into a school of excellence by renovating and refurbishing the buildings and classrooms; levelling and paving the area between the classrooms, equipping them with a soccer pitch, a netball court and so on,” Young said.
“The school is situated in an environmentally sensitive area, so another goal is to teach them to care for their environment.
“These children show such enthusiasm and promise.
“Our club has ensured that each child at the school receives a meal a day and we have also just completed renovating the existing borehole, installing a pump and controller, connecting the existing water tank plus a water supply pipeline to the vegetable garden.
“The school and surrounding area has no piped municipal water supply.
“The school’s mission is to give their children the best education they can, to equip them with life-long learning with good literacy skills.
“The school’s commitment to providing quality education and opportunities is evident in the success of its chess players, who have made their mark at provincial level,” Young said.
The journey of the Fort Grey chess club is a testament to the transformative power of education, dedication, and community support that enables learners from underserved areas, to succeed.
The club’s journey continues to inspire, offering a ray of hope and motivation for pupils in their pursuit of excellence, both on and off the chessboard.