The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department hosted the official opening ceremony of the annual Chess Western Province League at the Proteaville Recreation Centre last weekend where 649 players from 26 clubs registered to participate. This prestigious event on the chess calendar will continue until the end of August.
The City is partnering with Chess Western Province and providing them with free usage of our facilities, with medals and equipment on loan for the duration of the chess league. They have agreed to provide resources including a trainer to teach the game to children currently participating in the after school programmes at some of our recreation hubs,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
The league is played over six weeks and will be concluded at the Sarepta Recreation Centre on Saturday 7 September 2019, with the top players predominantly featuring in the Premier Division.
The Development Division provides an opportunity for newly established clubs to participate in the biggest chess league in South Africa and also for players still within the development phases to play chess competitively. The platform given to players in the development section is important for advancing individual chess skills as well as the overall growth of the sport.
The City supports chess as an academic and mentally stimulating sport, and we want to encourage children of all ages to learn more about it at their nearest recreational facility or library. We are excited to host this tournament and about the opportunity to expand its reach.
Chess is not always seen as a game for everyone, but it benefits all who play and it’s a fun way of learning how to follow the rules and can help build concentration skills and self-confidence,’ said Councillor Badroodien. The current league games have already started and are being played at two Recreation and Parks facilities, the Proteaville and Sarepta Recreation Centres, and the upcoming tournaments include:
Sarepta Recreation Centre
17 August 2019
24 August 2019
7 September 2019
Proteaville Recreation Centre
10 August 2019
Source: City Of Cape Town