Helderberg Chess Club Open 2026
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 junior level.
Players from U7 to U13, as well as Section A and Section B, competed over 5 rounds of rated standard chess, delivering a full day of intense battles, impressive discipline, and exciting finishes across all sections.
The tournament ran smoothly and on schedule, with close to 100 junior players alone, creating an energetic and competitive atmosphere from the first move to the final handshake.
🏆 Section Results — Top 3 Finishers
U7 Boys
🥇 Jobin, Jeremiah Thanka
🥈 Schwalb, Roger
🥉 Prinsloo, Eli
U7 Girls
🥇 Steel, Layla
🥈 Lee, Jemima Erica
🥉 Tshivhase, Dakalo
U9 Girls
🥇 Klopper, Elbe
🥈 Pienaar, Gabriella
🥉 Craford, Sarah Leigh
U9 Boys
🥇 Rehse, Nathan
🥈 De Wet, Evan
🥉 Varadharajan, Akilan
U11 Mixed
🥇 Van Der Merwe, Schalk Wolf
🥈 Pfukwa, Rujeko
🥉 Nel, Joshua
U13 Girls
🥇 Chigwende, Olindar
🥈 Walters, Nicola
🥉 Shapiro, Hannah
U13 Boys
🥇 De Villiers, Christiaan
🥈 Copley, Murray
🥉 Prinsloo, Willem
Section B
🥇 Geduld, Connor Seth
🥈 Temmers, Garth
🥉 Esterhuysen, Sebastian
Section A
🥇 Ressel, Tane
🥈 Mthethwa, Nkanyiso
🥉 Amini, Daud
🔥 Brand Spotlight — ROOK WEAR
We were thrilled to welcome Rook Wear to the Helderberg Chess Club Open.
Founded by Ethan, Rook Wear brings together chess culture, confidence, and style, offering chess-inspired apparel that truly represents the modern chess player. Their presence added something special to the event and highlighted the growing intersection between chess and lifestyle brands.
📸 Instagram: @rook_wear_academy
📘 Facebook: Rook Wear
🌐 Website: www.rookwear.co.za
📧 Email: rookwearapparel@gmail.com
We love seeing local brands grow alongside our chess community — on and off the board.
🍕 Sponsor Appreciation — Cucina Di Giovanni
A huge thank you to Cucina Di Giovanni for their incredibly generous pizza sponsorship.
Thanks to their support, 95 junior players (U7–U13) enjoyed a delicious lunch during the tournament — keeping energy levels high for a demanding day of competitive chess. Supporting youth chess in such a tangible way makes a real difference, and we are deeply grateful.
🏅 Medal Sponsor — Longwood Wealth
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Longwood Wealth for sponsoring the medals at this year’s tournament.
Special appreciation goes to Fanie Nel for his continued passion, commitment, and belief in junior chess at the Helderberg Chess Club. Contributions like this help motivate young players and strengthen our chess community year after year.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 Helderberg Chess Club Open was more than just a tournament — it was a clear sign that chess in our region is thriving. With growing participation, strong performances across all age groups, and fantastic community support, the future looks very bright.
Thank you to every player, parent, coach, sponsor, and volunteer who helped make this event such a success.
We look forward to seeing you all again at the board soon. ♟️
