Author: HCC Media

This past Triggerfish Tuesday was officially the windiest day of the week. Players arrived looking less like chess enthusiasts and more like they’d been released into the wild by the weather. None of this, however, deterred Charlie… who once again decided that chess is best played outside, exposed to the elements, as nature (and nicotine)…

A Record-Breaking Start to the Chess Year The Helderberg Chess Club Open, held on 17 January 2026, was a resounding success and a powerful way to kick off the new chess season. With almost 100 more players than last year, the event showed just how fast chess is growing in the Helderberg — especially at…

This past Triggerfish Tuesday felt like the official start of the season. Players arrived bright and early, suspiciously enthusiastic, and clearly pretending they weren’t all secretly sharpening their weapons for Saturday’s tournament. Very convincing. Absolutely foolproof. Ben casually mentioned that he was “a bit rusty,” which is a bold thing to say for someone who…

The first Triggerfish Tuesday of 2026 started slow and steady… which, in retrospect, was obviously a lie. Sven announced he was “rusty,” then immediately arrived with his usual bloodthirst and zero mercy. Clive was unfortunate enough to be first in the queue. The official victim report reads: “I got annihilated by Sven in the first…

Helderberg Chess Club is extremely proud of the players who represented the Western Cape at the Mzansi Inter Provincial Chess Championships in Gqeberha. Competing at this level demands discipline, resilience, and composure, and our players delivered across multiple age groups — contributing to team titles, board prizes, and strong individual finishes. Team Results Under 8…

With Mzanzi Nationals fast approaching, Helderberg Chess Club gathered its qualified juniors for one last concentrated training session. Coach Armand Etsebeth ran a focused two-hour prep class designed to fine-tune their openings, tighten calculation habits, and reinforce practical endgame technique — the exact polish they need before stepping into a national arena. This session took…

Helderberg Chess Club proudly played a direct supporting role in one of the most prestigious chess exhibitions ever hosted in Cape Town, as the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam showcase unfolded at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) ahead of the global finals near Hermanus. World number one Magnus Carlsen headlined the event alongside elite…

The A & A Invitational Chess Tournament 2025 took place on Saturday, 29 November 2025 at the Somerset West Library Hall, bringing together 50 committed players across all age groups and rating levels. The tournament was organized by Aldrich van Wyk and Armand Etsebeth, two of Helderberg Chess Club’s dedicated coaches, who set out to…

This Tuesday, Sven waited.And waited.And waited some more. But Tebogo never showed up. The long-awaited rematch of last week’s legendary stalemate was officially cancelled by fate. Now poor Sven has to live indefinitely with “½” haunting his rating. He even asked hopefully at one point, “Isn’t that other guy coming tonight?” He didn’t — but…

On Wednesday, our Mzansi players lined up at Waterstone Indigo Spur, buzzing with excitement for their very first “waitering job.” Manager Juan Pierre welcomed everyone warmly and paired each child with a dedicated waiter. Parents and supporters grabbed their seats — and keep your eyes on this space, because when the HCC exco ladies sit…