NICK BARNETT CHESS

DANIEL BARRISH won the 2019 South African Closed Chess Championship in Cape Town on the 17th December. His 7.5 points pipped those of Kenny Solomon at 7. Roberto De Abreu, Watu Kobese and Mohamed Bhawoodien followed with 6 points. The other participants were Paul Gluckman, Matt Pon and Roland Bezuidenhout 5.5, Keith Khumalo 5, Calvin Klaasen and Michael James 4.5 and Benjamin Hercules 3. Reflecting on his tournament Daniel thought that ‘the most difficult games were definitely the ones that I lost against Kenny and Michael James. My favourite wins were against Paul and Roland Bezuidenhout - nice clean positional wins I thought.’ He is studying 2nd year Computer Science at Stellenbosch. Chess-wise he intends playing in two tournaments in Italy, one in Spain and then one in Gibraltar over December /January 2020-21. After that he says he will focus on studies and practice, probably until the African Individuals and the Olympiad.

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JESSE FEBRUARY is now the top woman player in South Africa with her win at 8.5 points, a good 1 point ahead of Robyn Van Niekerk. Rebecca Selkerk and Charlize Van Zyl both managed 7 points, Nina Marais 6.5, Anzel Laubscher 6, Hanri Engelbrecht 5, Riekie Wolmanrans 4.5, Michelle Fisher and Dantelle Joubert 4, Anika du Plessis 3.5 and Jacqui Grobbelaar-Oertel 2.5. She commented: ‘My last four games really stood out. I lost one game in the middle of the tournament and had to strike back. My final round was a must-win to secure first or second; Anzel was my strongest opponent too, so I had to be well prepared.’ But this winner is giving back too: she launched Bright Minds Chess Academy in Port Elizabeth in October www.brightmindschess.co.za. The Academy hosts chess sessions on Saturdays with different focuses each week. You can also see more on at facebook/ brightmindschess where she uploads pictures from the sessions. She also has a few volunteer projects extending to Humansdorp, Joubertina and some schools in Port Elizabeth (Woolhope, Malabar and Chapman High). In March, the Academy will host its first tournament ‘Bright Minds Open’ in Port Elizabeth. She will be seeking sponsorship for the prize fund over the next couple of months. This young woman deserves the support of the chess authorities and community!

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ALTHOUGH THE Closed took place courtesy of the Chessa led by Hendrik du Toit, the unrest in Chess South Africa has given rise to an online petition on www.change.org. Search for: ‘sa chess players demand’. It asks for FIDE to intervene. I know nothing about Pule Mangonyane who started this petition, but if you read his plea, every chess player, coach or organiser would echo the sentiment. What do you think?

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