1/28/2020 – Levon Aronian was conspicuously absent from the latest field in Wijk aan Zee, for the second year in a row. The four-time Tata Steel Masters winner was instead a guest of honour at the South African Youth Championships, which was held in Johannesburg with well over 2,000 young players. There he gave a simultaneous display on 107 boards and played blitz with all comers in Joubert Park. | Photos: Levon Aronian

1/10/2019 – Wesley So made his first trip to Africa, as 2018 was drawing to a close, where he served as an ambassador for the sport to great acclaim at the South African Junior Chess Championship. From simuls, Q&As, blitz, and a healthy dose of photo opportunities, the USA' No. 2 player was certainly kept busy, but he also had an experience which was, in his words, "like a dream come true". | Photos: SAJCC Facebook page

4/12/2018 – American Hikaru Nakamura, one of the world’s top chess Grandmasters, has shown his generosity by honouring a pledge he made earlier this year to assist two promising junior players from South Africa to further their chess careers. Hikaru identified the two young talents during his visit to South Africa in January while he was attending the South African Junior Chess Championships. Khanya Mazibuko (pictured), one of the selected players, was able to secure a win against his idol during the 100 player Simul in Johannesburg. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

7/25/2017 – The South African Open Chess Championships returned to Durban this year after a 21-year break. It was held from the 14th to the 22nd July and was won by GM Sahaj Grover from India. In fact he won not only the Classical, but Rapid and the Blitz Championships as well! | Photo: Rayven Moodley

1/14/2015 – Kenny Solomon, South Africa's first Grandmaster, was born in 1979. At that time Apartheid still enforced racial segregation in South Africa. This also affected the life of Solomon. He grew up in Mitchell Plains, a densely populated township near Cape Town, plagued by poverty, violence and crime. Chess helped Solomon to discover new worlds.

10/2/2014 – Held simultaneously with the WYCC in Durban, South Africa, the Durban GM Open was also held over eleven hard rounds of play. This provided an important opportunity for players from South Africa and surrounding nations to get some valuable competitive practice against titled players. Fourteen grandmasters starred in the lineup, not to mention numerous masters. Illustrated report.

10/1/2014 – The night before the last round, only two players slept well, knowing they had bagged the gold. For the rest it meant a nail-biting last round to decide their fates. Would they be able to bask in everlasting glory, or would they lie awake for weeks to come, wondering about that one move, that defining moment? Here is the final report with all the results, pictures, and stories.

9/29/2014 – For one player, Dinara Saduakassova, the gold is decided, as she crushed her Girls Under-18 rivals a round in advance, but for others, it will all be decided in the final round. Some will be between two or three dominant forces, and others will be a mad sprint to the end, such as the Boys Under-16 where six have claims on the gold. Once more we bring a wonderful pictorial.

9/27/2014 – The World Youth Chess Championship continues to unfold in Durban, South Africa, and it has been dramatic for the many top-seeds, some of whom are past champions or huge favorites. The fighting over the boards has been so intense, that no player has been able to maintain a perfect 100% score. The coverage has included live video, as well as a slew of great pictures.

9/23/2014 – The 2014 World Youth Chess Championship has started, and is being hosted by the South African Chess Federation in Durban, South Africa. About 1000 children and youths have come to compete in the massive competition, hoping to inscribe their names into history. It has been tough going for the top seeds as many have already suffered early setbacks, though it is still early days.

12/6/2013 – Last night, Africa’s greatest son passed away, and while it might seem strange for us to do a tribute to Nelson Mandela, considering the very specific focus of our news site, but chess surrounded him and he played it. If ever there was a leader whose strategic planning rivaled even the deepest plans of the chess world champions, it was him. We pay homage to Nelson Mandela and his legacy.

8/14/2013 – The event had 14 participants, all of them with international titles: six GMs, four IMs and four FMs. It was duly won, a point ahead of the field, by our roving reporter GM Alexander Ipatov, the second seed. Alex used his time in Cape Town well: he gave a simul, held a lecture, went diving for great whites, met pro wrestlers and took flying lessons in a small plane. You know, just the usual stuff GMs do.

8/12/2013 – "I’m on my way from Cape Town to Istanbul," writes GM Alexander Ipatov. "There is a large selection of movies and songs on board the Turkish Airlines flight, but I have decided to open my laptop and write this article. Why now and not when I arrive home? Because Cape Town and people whom I met left a huge mark in my heart. I want to share my impressions while they are still fresh." Part one.

7/18/2013 – While the Commonwealth Championship ended in a deserving victory for GM Abhijeet Gupta, its conclusion was overshadowed by some prestigious VIP guests: South African president Jacob Zuma and former world champion Garry Kasparov. Zuma revealed that as a political prisoner he had played chess with soap pieces and driftwood. Today they celebrate Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday.

7/12/2013 – This is the last time the Commonwealth Championship is held in an Open format, with countless side events: a blitz tournament, FIDE arbiter and trainer seminars, simuls, lectures, photo sessions, safari trips and more! The proportions of this tournament are truly huge and it started with a spectacular opening ceremony. Here is an illustrated report by Alina L'Ami.