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Emalahleni Chess Academy hosted chess players from across the country and beyond the borders. TheEmalahleniAutumn Open Chess tournament was well supported.

The tournament was held at the Lynnville Hall on Saturday, April 15 and hosted over 80 chess players from all regions of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and even the Eastern Cape province. Thetournamenteven attracted players from Lesotho and Swaziland.

This was by far the biggest chess event in the province, not only in terms of the prize fund but also in terms of the strength of the players it attracted.

The event was honoured by the presence of some ofGautengstop players which included the Great Jacob Mnguni rated above 2200, accompanied by Mthunzi Brighton and Candidate Master Khanya Mazibuko.

The University of LimpopoChess Clubsent out a convincing team of young stars who were ably led by the young Sello Mahlangu, former University Sports South Africa (USSA) champion. Khulasande Mafanya, aka Koolz the MC was there representing Eastern Cape and his academy ThinkChess Academy.

The hosting province, Mpumalanga, had every region coming out to show the country that we have chess clubs here and they are strong and functional.

Ehlanzeni was represented by the Mbombela Chess Club and the Nkomazi Chess Club with over 20 players having travelled hundreds of kilometres to test theirchesstactics and strategies against some of the top players in the country.

Gert Sibande Region was represented by players from the Embalenhle Chess Club as led by Makhosonke Khuhlase, and Nkangala.

The hosting region was represented by the Emalahleni Chess Academy boosting some of the strongest unrated players such as Ronald Makombore who scored some unexpected yet spectacular wins against some much higher-rated players.

Woza Nabangani BakhoChess Club, also representing the Nkangala region brought some brilliant young players to give them a chance to experience high-level chess played in their background.

We were impressed to witness the joy in the faces of the juniors who took both the wins and losses with grace and stayed on to play all six rounds of the tournament. A special mention to Tshegofatso Chego, a physically challenged young man who, to me, embodied the nature of chess as a mental game which brings positive stimulation to the mind. You had to see the bright light coming out of his eyes and see the joy beaming out of his face to understand the pleasure that comes with chess, said Mr Fortune Macassa, tournament organiser.

He added to say that it gave him such a pleasure to see more than 80 players mentally stimulated in the game of chess coming from all the corners of Mpumalanga and beyond to gather at Lynnville Hall.

According to him, it was not the promise of the prize money, but rather the hope that one might be fortunate enough to play at least one game against a player so good that it challenges one to dig deeper into their chest of creative ideas and meet themselves; because a good game of chess can send one into a deep state of meditation and allow one to understand themselves; because all we are is in our minds.

I have intentionally delayed mentioning Mpumalangas most valuable chess treasure, which is the number one player in the province who always steps up to defend the honour of Mpumalanga chess whenever we have visitors. That of course is Fide Master Banele Mhango, the champion of many chess events in South Africa, and now the champion of the Emalahleni Autumn Open Chess Tournament. Candidate Master Khanya Mazibuko finished second, followed by Jacob Mnguni in third place.

The best female player prize went to Naleli McPherson from Lesotho and the best Junior was Nkhwashu Geraldine from Nkangala. The greatest prize of all was the rejuvenating energy of chess players coming together to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The spirit of oneness amongst chess players from all over makes us all feel that we do actually belong together. The memories we create keep us going strong until the next time we meet again to recharge and remember, we are one big family, added Macassa.

He further thanked the organisers under the leadership of Emalahleni Chess Academy under him, Corridon Masina, the secretary who made this big event a huge success as this would not have been possible without them.

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Local chess players moving to a higher level - Witbank News