Turfhall Primary: Phenomenal Chess Growth

In April 2012 Turfhall hosted a tournament for Chess Trials for schools and was at the same time inspired to open it's own chess club.

After seeking assistance from Chess Western Province with the direction from Mr Abdul Barday, the teacher in charge of Chess Miss Sene Van Heerden contacted me to assist in setting up a club at the school.

This is when I understood for the first time that my new name was Uncle! This is a respective way of the cape it seems to call your elderly males.

Anywhere we started with six players at the time and it slowly grew. It's amazing to see the support the sport drew from both parents and teachers.

To date in less than 12 months we have over 30 students in the club and its continuing to grow.

I would like to congratulate Turfhall for its initiative.

Chess growth in the Western Cape

Over the years with efforts from many people Chess has been growing in the Cape.

I just thought I would publish something brief on this phenomena. It became quite apparent to me as I had three invitations today to completely different chess activities.

There was a schools trials with a lot of kids battling it out, there was a group in Gugulethu playing and planning to Open a club and lastly I had an invitation from Steinitz chess club undoubtedly the most professional club in the country to attend their match against Alekhine Chess Club all the way from the eastern Cape. I was there for the firs match in which Steinitz triumphed with a score of 9-4, well done to them.

My realization in all this was that the Revolution that the MEC for Sports and Culture Dr Ivan Meyer launched March 2011 is now being realized in the Western Cape.

Chess Development Officer
Western Cape
Reuben Salimu