Grant East Primary Schools Chess Tournament — A Celebration of Young Talent
On Saturday, 18th October, the halls of Hendrik Louw Primary School buzzed with concentration, excitement, and quiet determination as young minds from schools across the Helderberg gathered for the annual Grant East Chess Tournament.
The event, named in honour of Mr. Grant East — a much-loved teacher and lifelong promoter of school chess in the Helderberg — continues to inspire new generations of players. Mr. East, who taught chess at Hendrik Louw for many years, made a special appearance at the event, much to the delight of players and parents alike. His dedication and contribution to chess in our region have left an enduring legacy, and it was wonderful to see the tournament that bears his name continue to grow in both spirit and size.
Beautifully organized by Riana van den Bergh and officiated by Chief Arbiter Armand Etsebeth, the tournament ran smoothly from start to finish. The atmosphere was friendly yet competitive, and the level of play was impressive — a testament to the growing chess culture in our local schools and clubs.
Many of our Helderberg Chess Club juniors featured prominently on the podiums, taking home medals and making their schools proud. A heartfelt congratulations to all participants and especially to the following top achievers:
🏆 U7 Girls
🥇 Zoey de Wet (1225)
🥈 Lila de Wet (1258)
🥉 Sophia Smith (1403)
🏆 U7 Boys
🥇 Evan de Wet (1519)
🥈 Heiko Etsebeth (1306)
🥉 Adam Erasmus (1257)
🏆 U9 Girls
🥇 Trinity Isaacs (1252)
🥈 Sarah-Leigh Crafford (1278)
🥉 Lana de Bruyn (1236)
🏆 U9 Boys
🥇 Josua Baruch Kruger (1589)
🥈 Michael Venter (1528)
🥉 Joubert Linde
🏆 U11 Girls
🥇 Isabella Temmers (1612)
🥈 Nicola Walters (1506)
🥉 Rujeko Pfukwa
🏆 U11 Boys
🥇 Jason Griesel (1541)
🥈 Daniel van der Spuy (1412)
🥉 Neil Stewart (1518)
🏆 U13 Girls
🥇 Palesa Pfukwa (1538)
🥈 Alyssa Bolton (1415)
🥉 Amori Webb (1421)
🏆 U13 Boys
🥇 Aleks Guo (1673)
🥈 Tyler Smith (1545)
🥉 Tatenda Nkomo
It was a joy to see so many young players representing their schools and the Helderberg chess community with pride and enthusiasm. Each match reflected the spirit of sportsmanship and the growing strength of youth chess in our region.
Congratulations once again to all players, organizers, and coaches who made this day so memorable — and a special thank you to Mr. Grant East for the legacy he has built, which continues to shape the future of chess in our schools.
