Blog

Helderberg Chess Club had another strong day in the Cape Town Chess League yesterday, with all three teams competing at Altena. The A and B teams were playing their third and fourth rounds of the league, having played their opening two rounds two weeks ago. The C team, competing in E Division, played its first…

The 2026 South African Open Chess Championship, held from 2–5 July at DF Akademie in Bellville, was another memorable event for Helderberg Chess Club. Players from across the Helderberg basin competed against some of the strongest chess players in South Africa, producing outstanding performances across nearly every age category. From six-year-olds playing in their very…

It was an unforgettable experience for three Helderberg Chess Club players who represented South Africa on the international stage at the FIDE World Cup Under 8–12 in Batumi, Georgia. Joshua Nel, Josua Kruger and Evan de Wet competed against some of the strongest young chess players from around the world in a tournament that showcased…

Helderberg Chess Club members delivered an impressive set of performances at the Cape Open Chess Championships held from 13–15 June, with players competing across multiple age groups and sections. The club returned home with several podium finishes, section winners, rating gains, and strong performances from both experienced competitors and rising young talents. In the Open…

If you’ve attended a junior chess tournament in the Western Cape over the past two years, chances are you’ve seen Lila, Evan and Zoey deep in concentration over a chessboard. The talented triplets from Helderberg Chess Club have become familiar faces on the local chess circuit, collecting medals, earning provincial honours and establishing themselves among…

Two young stars from Helderberg Chess Club recently had the honour of representing South Africa at the 17th African Youth Chess Championship (AYCC) in Entebbe, Uganda. The prestigious continental tournament took place from 14 to 23 May 2026 at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria and attracted hundreds of talented…

The past few weeks have been hugely successful for Helderberg Chess Club, with our players delivering exceptional performances at both the 2026 WCSC HS Individual Championship in George on the weekend of 2 May, and the 2026 WCSC PS Individual Championship in Gansbaai on the weekend of 16 May. These prestigious events were regional closed…

This past Tuesday, the weather tried its best to cancel chess.Rain. Wind. General “stay at home” energy. And it worked… on almost everyone. Except Charlie.Rain or storm, Charlie will always play chess, preferably outside. When we arrived, Aleks was already there, eager to absorb some of Sven’s legendary wisdom. Unfortunately for him (and possibly for…

This past Tuesday, Alyssa graced us with her presence — a rare and slightly suspicious occurrence. Rumour has it that provincials are only a week away, and suddenly chess fitness has become a priority. She arrived armed with a notation pad and a serious expression — which immediately attracted the attention of Alex, who is…

This past Triggerfish Tuesday, Naomi and Sven arrived bright and early-ish (which, for Naomi, is basically sunrise). Naomi was immediately delighted to spot last week’s rival… there was a score to settle. Unfortunately for her, he arrived in absolute peak form and wasted no time crushing her straight out of the opening with some particularly…