Out of the Box at Triggerfish: A Freestyle Chess Adventure
The Freestyle Chess tournament at Triggerfish Market, hosted by Helderberg Chess Club on 19 October, brought a fresh dose of creativity and laughter to the board. Inspired by Magnus Carlsen and other world champions who’ll soon bring this format to Cape Town, players got a taste of what it’s like to think completely outside the box — literally!
Instead of the usual opening prep and memorized lines, every game started from a randomized setup. It was pure strategy, instinct, and imagination — and everyone loved it. You could almost see the gears turning as players tried to make sense of the unfamiliar positions.
A special surprise came when Craig Willenberg and his family popped in to join the fun. It was great reconnecting over some lively games, and we might soon be setting up an interclub battle against their team — watch this space!
The day wrapped up with a friendly blitz battle, where the energy stayed high and the laughter louder than the clocks. Unfortunately, the ClashOTB app test couldn’t go ahead this time due to a weak signal at the venue, but spirits remained strong — and the Freestyle format definitely stole the show. Some chess moms also had stalls there and especially the delicious malva pudding was a hit.
It was chess, but not as we know it — spontaneous, creative, and endlessly fun. ♟
