Two young chess players from Midrand Chess Club have qualified for the Mzansi Youth Inter-Provincial Chess Championship after representing Johannesburg Metro Chess (JMC) at the Gauteng Closed Chess Championship.

Arham Khalife, who competed in the U16 category, and Khotso Ntseare, in the U8 category, qualified for the next stage after competing on October 17 at St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls in Boksburg.

Midrand Chess Club coach and JMC executive committee member Kgosimang Molefe said the achievement was a proud moment for the club and its young players.

“Their qualification is an achievement for both the players and Midrand Chess Club,” said Molefe. “Selection was based on performance at the Gauteng Closed Championship and the applicable qualification criteria for the Mzansi Youth Inter-Provincial Team Chess Championship.

We are proud that our players have earned the opportunity to progress to the next level and represent Gauteng.”

Three Midrand Chess Club players were among those representing JMC at the provincial competition, an improvement on the club’s participation last year.

Molefe described the tournament as a valuable learning experience that allowed the players to test their skills against some of the province’s strongest chess competitors. “Having three players represent our club gave them an opportunity to test their skills against strong opposition, identify areas for improvement, and gain experience that will benefit them in future competitions,” he said.

He added that the players’ participation reflected the importance of giving young chess players opportunities to compete beyond club level.

According to Molefe, the increased representation was also an encouraging sign that the club’s grassroots development efforts were beginning to produce results. “Our focus has been on creating opportunities for young players to learn, compete, and progress to higher levels of the game,” he said.

He said the club intended to strengthen its coaching, increase competitive opportunities and continue developing players capable of competing at provincial level.

Molefe said competing at inter-provincial level would expose the young players to different playing styles, stronger opponents and a higher standard of competition, helping them develop their strategic thinking, concentration, resilience and ability to perform under pressure.

He added that the experience could also help the players build confidence, learn from competitors from other provinces and understand what was required to progress further in chess.

However, Molefe said developing young talent required consistent support from parents, schools, clubs, sponsors and sporting organisations.

“Young players need consistent coaching, regular exposure to strong competition, access to tournament opportunities, and financial support for registration, transport, and other related expenses,” he said.

He said that even modest assistance could help talented players access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

Molefe congratulated all three Midrand Chess Club players who participated in the Gauteng Closed Chess Championship, with particular recognition for Arham and Khotso on securing qualification.

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