MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The quiet of Preekstoel Resort in Still Bay provided the ideal setting when 15 teams representing five clubs competed for the coveted Western Cape Club Chess Championships title.
The tournament, which took place over the weekend of 16 to 18 March, was hosted by Eden Chess and the club chair Ralph Cloete would like to express his thanks to the organisers, especially Pietie Steyn for the sterling effort in this regard, and the hospitality extended to the players.
Mossel Bay A, represented by Björn October (Board 1), Thomas Jaars (Board 2), Wayne Jordaan (Board 3) and Ruan Janse van Rensburg (Board 4 and captain), gave a good account of themselves.
The final round saw an oft-repeated scene in local chess when Mossel Bay A and Riversdale A had to contest for local Eden honours.
In this instance, however, they only played for the silver medal because the strong Steinitz CC outfit from Cape Town had already secured the title by then.
This time Riversdale A managed to best their long-time nemesis by 2½ to 1½, and the medals in the senior division went to Steinitz (Gold), Riversdale A (silver) and Mossel Bay (bronze).
George A, which had a bye in the final round, lost out narrowly to Mossel Bay for a place on the podium.
The individual board prizes in the senior division went to Lyndon Bouah (Board 1, 6/6), Michael James (Board 2, 6/6), Wayne Jordaan (Board 3, 5/6) and Welesley Davids (Board 4, 6/6).
The medals in Division B went to Riversdale C (gold), Riversdale B (silver) and Riversdale D (bronze).
Throughout the weekend, the tournament provided some sparkling chess and some surprising results, with Denise Bouah from Steinitz CC ( 1761) losing to unrated Welesley Davids on Board four and the biggest shock of all, when the reigning senior South African champion, Mark Lewis (1 902) from Steinitz CC, was tripped up twice, in round two against Jason Jantjies (1 200) from Albertinia A, and again in Round 4 against Wayne Jordaan (1 315).
The Mossel Bay Chess Club meets twice a week at the Indoor Sports Centre in Protea Park on Mondays and Wednesdays from 18:00 to 20:00.
All are welcome and parents are encouraged to drop off their children with the coaches.
On a different slant, for all those parents who despair that their children are unable to do simple arithmetic without the help of a calculator, the mental exercises that chess presents to young minds, will provide some of the much-needed intellectual stimulation needed in our modern world.
The Mossel Bay Chess Club would also like to inform all chess players, old and young, of the Pacaltzdorp CC Open Tournament which will take place at George Civic Hall on 25 and 26 May.
Interested parties can contact the club’s chairperson, Ralph Cloete (083 215 6241), Treasurer Bjorn October (071 996 4891) or secretary Henry Willemse (079 452 1300).
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