WATCH: Chess fever grips Gauteng as junior game booms
Hundreds of players between seven and 20 years old competed in five rounds of chess.
Junior chess is experiencing a boom in Gauteng, with nearly 2,000 players, parents, coaches, and supporters gathering at St Dominic's Catholic School for Girls in Boksburg for the Gauteng Closed Chess Championships. Children aged between seven and 20 competed in five rounds of chess, aiming to secure spots on the provincial team heading to Bloemfontein for the Mzansi Youth Inter-Provincial Championships in December.
This surge in popularity reflects the growing appeal of chess to children, schools, families, and corporate sponsors. Five years ago, Ridgewood College teacher and chess coach Melanide Griffiths only had a few pupils interested in the sport. Now, her students compete successfully against established teams across the province. Griffiths attributes this remarkable growth to the game's ability to help children find their place in conventional school sports and develop crucial skills such as concentration, problem-solving, independence, and confidence.
Chess coach and tournament arbiter Ncedo Buthelezi notes that the expanding tournament circuit provides young players with opportunities to progress from school and community chess to provincial, national, and international competitions. Buthelezi himself discovered chess while growing up in a township, where it offered an escape from challenging surroundings.
He emphasizes that chess teaches children critical thinking and decision-making skills, adding an important social element as players engage in a dialogue, making moves and respecting their opponents.
Arbitrer Albert Nel oversees the tournament action. Picture by Hein Kaiser. Energy drink Mofaya's Ronaldo Ferrinha shared how his son's involvement in chess introduced the family to a growing community of young players, parents, and coaches who regularly attend tournaments. Watching his son compete has deepened Ferrinha's appreciation for the concentration and tactical thinking required in the game.
He explains that attending more tournaments has revealed a significant opportunity to engage with these children and their families.
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