Five young players from Gauteng were honoured with National Youth Chess Awards in their respective age groups. This was the first ever national Youth Chess Awards and is the most prestigious annual award for young chess stars from U/8 to U/20.
Hanri Engelbrecht was named the female U/14 youth player of the year. She won a silver medal in the African Youth Chess Championships and a bronze medal in the South African Junior Closed Chess Championships last year. She also represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Chess Championships.
Inge Marx was named the female U/18 player of the year. She won a gold medal in the South African Junior Closed Chess Championships and the African Youth Chess Championships. At the same event, she received the title of Women’s International Master. She also won a bronze medal at the African Zone 4.3 Individual in 2016.
Chris Kolver was the male U/18 player of the year. He represented the province in the South African Team Champs. He also represented the country in the World Youth Chess Champs last year where he attained a performance rating of 2 100. Chris won a gold medal in the South African Junior Closed Chess Championships.
Roland Bezuidenhout was the male U/20 junior player of the year. He is the winner of the South African Junior Closed Chess Championships and the U/20 open section of the Commonwealth Chess Championships held in Sri Lanka last year.
Best male youth player was Hopewell Fakude. He is the winner of the South African Junior Closed Chess Championships and the South Africa School Selected Chess Championships. He also won the Gauteng Individual Chess Championships and represented South Africa at the African Youth Chess Championships.
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