SIMPHIWE NHLABATHI
On 28 February TuksChess hosted an unrated Open Chess Tournament at Sci-Enza. Everyone was welcome to take part in the tournament, including non-Tuks students and junior players. 43 players attended the tournament, with players coming all the way from the University of Limpopo to take part.
The players were competing for cash prizes of up to R800. Another incentive that was given only to the TuksChess players was that the top players would stand a chance to represent UP at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Chess Championship at the end of the year. The tournament consisted of five rounds, with Craig Bornheim taking first place without any loss. Bornheim is yet to lose a game in a TuksChess tournament since joining the club in 2013. He is also an international player who has represented South Africa in several tournaments around the world and has a chess rating of 2072.
Four players ended the day tied for second place on four points each. The winner was decided through a series of tie-breaker games. Second position was handed to Hendri de Klerk, third to Vincent Mokoena, while fourth place was given to Maropeng Molepo and fifth to top female player Jacqui Grobbelaar. Although unfortunate to lose in the tie-breaking round, one of the highlights of the day was Grobbelaar holding her own to tie in second position. Grobbelaar is also a qualified chess instructor of Tshwane Chess and is a representative of South African chess.
TuksChess is in the process of establishing a junior program and there were 11 junior players that attended. Hanko Crous was the top junior player. Other players that did well are Rene de Beer, Kyle Williams, Lourens Bester, Kobus Coetsee and Andrew Tan.
Image provided.
