♟ Club News & Updates

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…

Triggerfish Tuesday started off deceptively calm. Clive was there bright and early — which he soon regretted after agreeing to a “warmup” match with Sven (a mistake he won’t repeat). Michael took a little longer to warm up — Naomi left him with Charlie for a gentle start, only to return from placing an order…

This week, Ben glided in on the back of his dad’s electric bike — presumably. Naomi didn’t actually see it, but after last week’s breaking news headline (“Ben Arrives on Motorbike!”), she’d like to issue an official correction before rumours of a chess biker gang start. Dennis, fully recovered from his flu and clearly making…

The market was buzzing with energy as chess players and supporters filled the patio for another fantastic day of community chess! Despite the scorching heat, the shaded patio offered the perfect cool spot for our games — and what a turnout it was. 💚 Beginners Section (15 players)Open to all juniors under 1500 rating, the…