Press Release

10 July 2009


SA players come out top at the African Youth Chess Championship


The African Youth Chess Championship closed on a high note yesterday in Rochester House Salt River, Cape Town. The inaugural tournament held in South Africa was a triumphant success, announces Chess South Africa.

Ten players from South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria have each as victors qualified for the 2009 World Youth Chess Championship to be held in Turkey from November 11 – 23.

A total of nine countries playing in a Round Robin System, participated in this tournament all bringing together diverse skills and expertise to the game.

The tournament saw players from South Africa and Egypt dominate the board. Winners in each age group; four South African girls and two boys have respectively earned themselves FIDE titles, Women Fide Master and the Fide Master titles.

“Our players demonstrated resilience and discipline in their command of the game against world class players. We are proud of all our young players and look forward to sending them off to Turkey” says Emellia Ellapen, President of Chessa.

The tournament took place beginning of July and was hosted by Chessa and sponsored by FIDE, City of Cape Town, Mazars Moores Rowland (Cape Town) and the National Lotto.

“This is a clear indication that African players are passionate and ready to play on world stage, the international recognition will prove to the world that Africa is a continent deserving of acknowledgement.” concluded Dabilani Buthali, President of African Chess Union.


Winners of the African Youth Championship

Age Group

Boys

Country

Girls

Country

U10

Barrish D

RSA

De Bruyn AL

RSA

U12

Fouad AW

EGY

Jeena C

RSA

U14

Du Toit SM

RSA

Amra T

RSA

U16

Asaad Ma

EGY

Latreche S

ALG

U18

Hesham AW

EGY

Roos E

RSA


ISSUED BY: FD Beachhead

Senzi Dlamini 011 214 2420

Senzi.dlamini@fd.com

Pearl Mogadima 011 214 2423

pearl.mogadima@fd.com

ON BEHALF OF: CHESSA (CHESS SOUTH AFRICA)

About CHESSA

CHESSA is a voluntary association of members joined together in the pursuit of promoting the sport of chess in South Africa. CHESSA is a member of FIDE (World Chess Federation) and is recognised as the only controlling body for chess in South Africa and therefore controls and enforces the playing rules of FIDE for chess in South Africa. The main objective of CHESSA is to coordinate, administer and promote chess as a sport, recreational and educational activity in South Africa and foster a spirit of healthy competition among players of all races, gender and ages. http://www.chessa.co.za/

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