UNIVERSITY SPORT SOUTH AFRICA| Wits University 2022

Meet the Witwatersrand University chess team 2022. Just last week, the University Sport South Africa chess championship tournament concluded and Man! was it not a tough one. It was very close from the 1st place spot all the way to 4thplace. For the team standings at least...

I'll give you the standings at the end of the post but for now let me tell you more about this

incredible event. It is the equivalent of the SAJCCC (SOUTH AFRICAN JUNIOR CLOSED

CHAMPIONSHIPS) for university students in South Africa which are considered Nationals.

The Tournament was hosted at the Sol Plaaje University in Kimberly, South Africa. For some of the historians and those who just appreciate world landmarks, Kimberly is famously known for its BIG HOLE which is the biggest man-made hole in the world. How did this happen?

Photo credit: @pragz_lestrange (Instagram)

You guessed it! They were mining chess variations and NOVELTIES!! Like seriously! Thats why Kimberly is continuing to become the greatest chess hub in South Africa currently in my opinion. You don't believe me?

Here is a rare picture of chess players who had found stones which had the entombed variations of chess within them stored by the great goddess of chess Caϊssa herself. It was said that the mining was so difficult even Super Anré (Unsung hero) had to step in.

 That's just my imagination running wild. Jokes aside, they were mining diamonds back in the 1800's during the diamond rush. Enough rant and history lessons for now, BACK TO THE CHESS!

There were prizes for individual best performer 1st-3rd place open section and 1st-3rd place ladies' section. The best teams in the open were also ranked 1st-3rd with 1st place winning a trophy for their university as well as the ladies and an overall combined best performing Varsity.

The top 8(both open and ladies' sections respectively) will represent South Africa at International University Chess events. The top half(4players) get to go to the FISU (International Sport University federation), and the bottom half go to FASU (The Federation of African Sport University).

Not to make this about me but I had a blast at the tournament. Here is rare picture of a soldier before the war begins...
 Yes, real man wear pink! I can assure you now, after this game, I wasn't so chirpy. If anything, I just wanted to dig a hole and bury myself. Now that I think about it...kind of what my opponent did to me. I'll spare you all the gory details. Besides, I still got PTSD from that one.

Here are the final results.

Congratulations to the winning teams and as well at the individuals who performed extraordinarily well and made it to be eligibility for team selection. Below are the Top 10 Final standings of individuals.

ADJOURNED