Young chess star all set to outplay the best in world
A YOUNG chess player will be winging her way to Greece next month to take part in an international competition.
Hailey Bruintjies 7, will take on other bright young players at the World Youth and Cadets Chess Championships.
Hailey is ecstatic about donning the green and gold for her trip to Porto Carras to compete in the under-eight division.
The championships will run from October 24 to November 5.
“I will gain a lot of experience from attending the tournament,” Hailey said.
The Grade 2 pupil from Parsons Hill Primary School started playing chess at the age of five and has already represented Eastern Province.
She is the only Eastern Cape player chosen to attend the championships.
Her selection for the international tournament came after an impressive display at the SA Junior Closed Chess Championships in July, where she won the under-eight title.
Hailey is coached by Frederick Odendaal, who will mentor the various national age group teams as they look to bring back a host of medals.
She was previously coached by Karen Ashworth, another major influence in her short career.
Odendaal said Hailey had great potential, but her future would depend on maintaining her interest.
“I have only given her three or so lessons thus far, but from what I have seen, I think she could do well if she sticks to it and continues to play as she gets older,” he said.
Eastern Cape Schools Chess secretary Wayne Muller said it was great that such a young player was being exposed to international competitions.
He believed Hailey would do well as her work rate “is phenomenal”.
“She also recently enlisted the help of a new coach, so that has opened her up to a new set of skills – her results show that she can compete with the best.”
Muller said competing on the world stage was extremely challenging.
Much more work needed to be done to reach the standards of chess players in other countries, he said.
However, through talented players like Hailey and others, success could be achieved.