Knight Riders off to World Champs
Knight Riders Chess Club a force to be reckoned with.
The Knight Riders Chess Club has been doing exceptionally well at the national level and two of its players poised to represent the country at the World Youth Championships in Greece.
The Club which was founded in June 2009, by Linda Makhubela.
Makhubela said, “We have 46 active players and a total of 93 players registered players.
“We have participated in many competitions such as the South African Open, South African Junior Chess Championships, South African Junior Closed Chess Championships and the Kwa-Zulu-Natal open.”
“We had five players that qualified to play in the South African Junior Closed Chess Championships (SAJCCC) namely Portia Mbewana(11), Khanya Mazibuko(14), Xolani Nhlapo(12), Njabulo Mavuso(12) and Keith Khumalo(14) (all Vulamazibuko Primary School pupils).
“The five players were competing with other junior chess players to represent South Africa at the world stage,” he said.
Makhubela said, “Out of the five that competed, only two of the players Khanya and Keith managed to finish in the top 5 of the U14 division and they are going to represent South Africa at the World Youth Championships that will be held at Greece and the Commonwealth Chess Championships which will be held in India.
“They will also be taking part in the African Juniors Championships in Zambia.”
“It means a lot to me as we can have players that are coming from disadvantage backgrounds and proving that you can make it no matter where you come from.
“The children are competing with pupils from private schools and for them to qualify for such tournaments it proves that we have talent in Soweto,” Makhubela added.
