New Executive for Cape Winelands Chess Elected

February 25, 2019Leave a comment

Heinrich Basson elected as Deputy President of Cape Winelands Chess Union.

Heinrich Basson of the Stellenbosch Chess Club was elected as Deputy President of the Cape Winelands Chess Union on Saturday, 23 February 2019 at the Wellington High School. Mr Zaakie Jacobs of the Worcester Chess Academy was the other candidate for this position. Mr Jacobs graciously withdrew his candidature in favour of Heinrich Basson.

The elections took place under the auspices of the Western Cape Chess Association. Mr Leon de Jager was chairperson of the election meeting. He indicated in a short speech that the election of the new Cape Winelands Chess Union means that all the unions in the Western Cape are now functional and heralds a new era in Western Cape Chess.

Christian Maxwell of Drakenstein Dragons Chess Club was elected as President of the Cape Winelands Chess Union. 4B6B5827-6B95-4ADE-8174-77A6D105BF9B

The full Executive is Christian Maxwell (President), Heinrich Basson (Deputy President), Ms Fairous Adams (Treasurer), Ms Joceline Nel (Secretary) and Mr Zaakie Jacobs (Additional Member).

Mr Maxwell expressed his hope that the Cape Winelands Chess Union will go from strength to strength. He also intimated that the new executive has quite a few ideas to develop chess in the region.

In a discussion after the meeting between the Clubs present, the participants urged the formation of a Cape Winelands Chess League and also the return of the Boland (Cape Winelands) Open tournament.

The outgoing President Mr Reza Williams was thanked for his contribution to chess. Mr Williams could not attend the election because of work commitments.

The Stellenbosch Chess Club wishes the new executive all the best for their term and would support the CWCU wherever possible.

Chess Western Province Awards Ceremony

February 10, 2019Leave a comment

Stellenbosch Chess Club received several awards during the Chess Western Province Award Ceremony for 2018, held at the Observatory Community Hall on Wednesday 6 February.

The Stellenbosch A team won silver medals for the second place in the Premier Division of the Western Province Club League Championship of 2018. They scored 17 match points and 51 game points. The only match they lost was against Manyanani Chess Club. The eventual winners were Steinitz Chess Club with 19 match points. In their match Stellenbosch drew with Steinitz 4 – 4. Daniel Frank also won the Board prize for Board 8 in the Premier Division.

The Stellenbosch D team won the bronze medal in the D Division with 15 match points and 42.5 game points. Dayne Fraser, a pupil of Paul Roos Gymnasium, won the Board Prize for Board 5 in the E Division of the League.

The Western Province Club League Championship exists from 1907 and is the oldest and biggest Club League Competition on the African continent. 27 Chess Clubs with 66 teams took part in the Championship of 2018. Stellenbosch, although geographically in the Cape Winelands, has always been part of the Western Province Club League Championship. The last time Stellenbosch Chess Club won the Club League Championship was in 2008.