Dunoon Chess

Dunoon Chess Tournament: The Middlegame 2026 ♟️🔥
A big congratulations to The Middlegame winners, AKILAN VARADHARAJAN and JUNIOR ROCOLO. 🔥✨️

AKILAN VARADHARAJAN claimed 1st place in the B Section with a perfect score of 5/5 points, and also received the Best Under 9 Player award. ♟️🔥

JUNIOR ROCOLO claimed 1st place in the A Section with 4/5 points, losing only to Willmore Pietersen, who has a 1545 Chess SA rating.
He also received an award for contributing to his school’s overall points, helping his school secure the BEST SCHOOL OF THE TOURNAMENT award with 14.5 points. ♟️🔥
In Dunoon Chess Tournament: The Opening, Junior finished 4th with 13.5/17 points. He now looks forward to maintaining his strong performance in DCT: The Endgame, which will be Chess SA rated and held in early December. 🔥✨️

LIYAKHA KAZIWE WINS THE DUNOON CHESS FRIENDLY TOURNAMENT ♟️🔥

Liyakha Kaziwe won the Dunoon Chess Friendly Tournament with a perfect score of 5/5 points.

The friendly tournament was hosted at Dunoon Public Library and brought together 17 chess players from Dunoon. It served as preparation for the upcoming DUNOON CHESS TOURNAMENT (DCT): The Middlegame 2026.

The upcoming tournament is a bit more special than the previous one, DCT: The Opening, which was open to Dunoon players only. This time, the excitement is even bigger, with challenging players expected from around Cape Town. The prizes are also more special, including trophies and medals, making it even more exciting for Dunoon players.

Dunoon chess is growing, and the players are getting ready for the Middlegame. ♟️🔥

SWARTLAND CHESS OPEN ♟️✨

Dunoon players under Dubez Chess Club represented Dunoon amazingly at the Swartland Chess Open. They showed that there is huge chess potential in Dunoon.

They went to the boards, picked up some wins, went to the stage to receive awards, and returned to Dunoon carrying hope for other young chess players, showing them that there is possibility for Dunoon players to shine too. 🙌🏿🔥

Here are the achievements and results they came back with:
🕶 = Best Player of the Round

Inam Phakathi — 🥉 3rd place in the Under 13 Section with 4/5 wins.
Aphakama Sondlo — 🕶 Best Player of Round 2 in the Under 13 Section with 3/5 wins.
Amara Chidela Titus — 🕶 Best Player of Round 4 in the Under 13 Section with 3 wins and 1 draw out of 5 rounds.
Inathi Masola — 🕶 Best Player of Round 3 in the Under 11 Section with 2/5 wins.
Thubalakhe Matomela — 🕶 Best Player of Round 3 in the Under 9 Section with 4/5 wins.

Dunoon is rising. ♟️🔥

Thubalakhe Matomela (Dunoon Primary School) and Amara Chidela Titus (Vissershok Primary School), both from Dubez Chess Club, have officially become the first Dunoon Junior Chess Players to qualify for Provincials. ♟️🔥

This is not only a huge achievement for them personally, but also a historic moment for chess development in Dunoon. They have now opened the door and led the way for many young players from the community to believe that competing at Provincial level is possible. 🙌🏿

Their qualification proves that talent exists in Dunoon, and with the right guidance, discipline, support, and opportunities, young players from the township can compete against some of the strongest players in the province.

What makes this achievement even more inspiring is that both players only started playing chess recently, yet they have already managed to reach such a high level. This will surely motivate more learners from local schools to participate in chess tournaments next year and aim for Provincials or even National levels in the future.

Dunoon has many talented and intelligent young players with great potential. This is only the beginning. In the coming years, we believe the community will continue producing strong, competitive chess players who can proudly represent Dunoon at higher levels across the country. ♟️🔥

A special thank you to the parents, schools, supporters, and everyone contributing towards the growth of chess in the community. The future of Dunoon chess is bright. 🙏🏿

Sophakama Primary School at
CBC St John's Rapid Chess 2026 ♟️🔥

A powerful showing from Sophakama Primary as our young warriors stepped into battle and held their ground against tough competition. 💪♟️

Under 14 section
Talita Buthongo had an opportunity to finish in 1st place after being paired against the tournament leader in the Under 14 section. Unfortunately, she lost that crucial game and ended the tournament on 4/6 points, finishing in 5th place with an impressive performance rating of 1499.

Inam Phakathi finished 8th with 4/5 points.
Jafeth Dukumbana finished 9th with 3.5/6 points.
Nikithemba Nkone finished 11th with 3.5/6 points.
Lindokuhle Phendu finished 13th with 3/6 points.
Khayone Beziyana finished 21st with 2/6 points.
Afikile Ngalokuhle finished 22nd with 2/6 points.
Iviwe Gqola finished 25th with 1/6 points.

Under 12 Section
Alunamda Nel finished 19th with 2/6 points.
Sinentle Kreleni finished 25th with 1.5/6 points.

The future of chess in Dunoon is rising. ♟️🔥

Dunoon Library Easter Holiday Program Chess Tournament 🔥♟️

What a tournament it was!!!

Asemahle Skeyi dominated the event, finishing with a perfect 6/6 score and walking away with 1st Place as well as Best Female of the Tournament. What a performance. 👏🔥

Inam Phakathi secured 2nd Place with 4/6 points and was also crowned Best Junior of the Tournament. 💪♟️

Amara Chidela Titus also scored 4/6 points, finishing in 3rd Place. 🔥

Thalitha Buthongo finished in 4th Place with 4/6 points. 👏

Sinayo Tshaka claimed 5th Place with 3.5/6 points. ♟️🔥

A big congratulations to all the players for the great performances, fighting spirit, and beautiful chess shown during the tournament. Dunoon talent keeps rising. 🚀🔥

Dunoon Library Easter Holiday Program Chess Tournament ♟️🔥

Just to let you know, bookworms. Dunoon Public Library is turning into a battlefield tomorrow. ⚔️🔥

Steinitz Chess Festival 2026 ♟️🔥

Dunoon Chess players faced older, stronger, and more experienced opponents, and still stood their ground in the Open Section. This wasn’t just a tournament… this was proof of growth, courage, and belief.

Highlights from the battlefield:

♟️ Asemahle Skeyi — 21st place (3/6 pts, 1360 performance rating)

♟️ Proud Kandenga (12 yrs) — 22nd place (3/6 pts, 1487 performance rating)
Defeated a 36-year-old rated 1571… yeah, let that sink in. 😂

♟️ Inam Phakathi — 24th place (3/6 pts, 1465 performance rating).

♟️ Thubalakhe Matomela (9 yrs) — 25th place (3/6 pts, 1310 performance rating)
Beating players nearly twice his age like it’s normal business, two 15 year olds, and one 16 year old.

♟️ Amara Chidela Titus — 26th place (3/6 pts, 1358 performance rating)
A silent killer… all wins against her own club mates.

♟️ Tshaka Sinayo — 28th (2/6 pts, 1263 performance rating)
♟️ Aphakama Sondlo — 33rd (2/6 pts, 1069 performance rating)
♟️ Inathi Masola — 34th (1.5/6 pts, 1006 performance rating)
♟️ Asenathi Baliso — 35th (1.5/6 pts, 1197 performance rating)

A strong and brave showing from the Dunoon Chess players in a highly competitive open section. The growth, fighting spirit, and courage to compete against older and experienced players is something to be proud of.

The journey continues. ♟️🏆🔥

Dunoon kids are doing so well in these tournaments. 🙇🏿‍♂️ We truly believe God will provide more than enough support to equip them with the effective training and resources they need. They have so much potential. 🙌🏿✨

Big shout out to Mr Tshuma from Sophakama Primary and Miss Mathinte from Silverleaf Primary for brilliantly sacrificing their Saturday and Sunday to ensure that the kids get the support they needed. ❤️❤️❤️🙌🏿