The Western Cape Women’s Month Chess Tournament began as a bold idea in 2018 and has grown into a prestigious and inspiring event on South Africa’s chess calendar.
Hosted annually at Club Mykonos in Langebaan, it will take place in August from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th.
The tournament was the brainchild of Lyndon Julies, Andre Lewaks and Basil Ellman, who sought to create a platform that celebrates women in chess while developing grassroots participation across the Western Cape.
According to Julies, Club Mykonos joined as host venue in 2018 and has remained an essential partner.
In 2019 the tournament hosted more than 100 players, including some of South Africa’s finest female players.
A five-day high-performance coaching clinic will also be hosted for 30 women and girls from all over the Western Cape from Friday 8 to Tuesday 12 August.
“This coaching clinic will serve as a springboard for the development of emerging female chess talent from across the country,” Julies said, “with a focus on competitive growth, peer learning and long-term engagement.
“About half of the women and girls will be from the Saldanha Bay Municipal area.”
International trainers for the clinic are Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Woman Grandmaster and Deputy Chair of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Management Board, Nadezhda Kravchuk of the International Schools Chess Federation, and Erick Takawira from the FIDE Social Commission.
Trainers from South Africa are Anzel Loubser, Woman International Master, and Reuben Salimu, Head Coach of Chess South Africa.
The International Chess Federation is also sponsoring Reizniece-Ozola, Kravchuk and Takawira, three esteemed coaches from Europe to lead the training.
“Their presence will bring a level of expertise and inspiration that has never been experienced in the Saldanha Bay municipal area,” said Julies.
