A Stellenbosch University (SU) residence held on to its title and emerged as champion in the final two rounds of a recent chess competition.
This is according to Kahill Dhevcharran, a fourth-year BSc (Computer Science) student at SU and the chairperson of Maties Chess.
The Dagbreek men’s residence chess team retained their Stellenbosch residence chess league title on 28 August, according to Mudrek Gamieldien, a second-year BA (Sport Science) student at SU and a member of the Dagbreek chess team.
The Dagbreek men’s residence chess team. From left to right: Kahill Dhevcharran, a fourth-year BSc (Computer Science) student at Stellenbosch University (SU) and the chairperson of Maties Chess; Kael Mostert, a third-year BEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) student; Mudrek Gamieldien, a second-year BA (Sport Science) student; Kobus Geyser, a first-year BCom (Financial Accounting) student; Adriaan Mostert, a first-year BEng (Data Engineering) student; and Hadley Volkwyn, the chess club and sport manager at Maties Sport. PHOTO: Nadia Swart
“We won last year, so it means a lot to defend [our title],” said Gamieldien. “And we also didn’t engrave [the trophy] yet; so we needed to win, so we can engrave it twice.”
The players believed their strong team spirit and bond set them apart from other teams, according to Kobus Geyser, a first-year BCom (Financial Accounting) student at SU.
A trophy was awarded to the Dagbreek chess team after they won the Stellenbosch residence chess league on 28 August. The team was extra motivated to hold on to the trophy, since last year’s win hadn’t been engraved on the trophy yet, according to Mudrek Gamieldien, a second-year BA (Sport Science) student at Stellenbosch University and a member of the Dagbreek chess team. PHOTO: Nadia Swart
Although Dagbreek won the overall league, a trophy for the best women’s chess team was awarded to Irene residence, according to Dhevcharran.
Katrien du Preez, a second-year BSc (Mathematical Science) student and Irene residence’s chess representative, said that their success was the result of strong team spirit, with players supporting each other and keeping the mood light during late-night games.
“Last year, we got second [place] and we were so close,” she said. “To be able to win this year was very big.”
The past, present, and future
This year’s league comprised 24 teams with a total of 96 players, making it the largest event since the league began, said Dhevcharran.
According to Hadley Volkwyn, the chess club and sport manager at Maties Sport, the league has steadily grown, and next year he hopes to expand it further, possibly hosting up to 200 students in a large, dedicated event.
Stellenbosch University students compete in the Stellenbosch residence chess league on 28 August. Chess stimulates the mind in a unique way because it forces one to strategise and respond to challenges, according to Hadley Volkwyn, chess club and sport manager at Maties Sport. “I think it is very helpful for students,” he said. PHOTO: Nadia Swart
The team element of chess teaches students about accountability, since an individual’s result has a direct impact on the rest of the team, said Volkwyn.
The appeal of chess lies partly in its accessibility, according to Dhevcharran, who said that it is a game that anyone can play, including students with disabilities and those who may not want to play other sports.
Some of the names of the Stellenbosch University (SU) residences who competed against each other for the top spot in the annual Stellenbosch residence chess league. Chess appeals to students across the board, including students who may not participate in traditional sports, which makes the league inclusive for all residences. This is according to Kahill Dhevcharran, a fourth-year BSc (Computer Science) student at SU and the chairperson of Maties Chess. PHOTO: Nadia Swart