Upington school crowned provincial chess champs as national battle looms

A GROUP of sharp-minded teens from Hoërskool Duineveld aim to make the Northern Cape proud after being crowned provincial champions in a national school chess tournament that’s rapidly becoming one of South Africa’s biggest intellectual showdowns.

The Upington school clinched top spot in the Northern Cape leg of the 2025 Alexforbes Battle Boards Chess Championship, earning their place among 64 high schools advancing to the national round of the prestigious competition, which will be held online on July 26.

More than just a game of pawns and kings, the championship pits the country’s best young strategists against one another in a digital arena, with the aim of crowning the nation’s ultimate school chess team by August 9.

Duineveld will now face off against other provincial champions, including Grey High School (Eastern Cape), Jeppe High School for Boys (Gauteng), Grey College (Free State), and Curro Durbanville (Western Cape), as well as dozens of other top-performing schools that qualified during regional heats.

Two other schools from the Northern Cape – St Patrick’s CBC (Kimberley) and Steinkopf High School – will be joining Duineveld in the 64-team national round.

The competition has been hailed for promoting more than just mental muscle – with organisers emphasising that chess builds strategic thinking, focus, and resilience among learners.

“This platform is about more than chess – it’s about preparing young people to think strategically, act decisively and compete with purpose,” says Viresh Maharaj, executive at Alexforbes. “We’re proud to support a space where learners can challenge themselves and be recognised for intellectual excellence.”

According to Chess South Africa president Andre Lewaks, interest in chess is surging across the country. “The response to this tournament has been phenomenal – not only in numbers but in the quality of play. We’re building a strong culture of strategic competition that stretches across provinces.”

The tournament is played entirely online, allowing schools from even the most remote corners of the country to participate without the logistical or financial burden of travel. For many rural schools, this has opened new doors to national recognition and competitive experience.

Duineveld and the rest of the top 64 schools will now be grouped into eight pools of eight teams, with the top two from each pool advancing to the grand final on ugust 9.

Full details of the tournament and a list of competing schools are available at www.battleboards.co.za.