Wits four in need of sponsorship for Paris chess showing

28 April 2021 - Tshepiso Mametela

Four chess players from the Wits Chess Club (WCC) are hoping to represent Wits University in the upcoming World University Team Chess Championship at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris in France.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from 27 to 31 July 2021 as the European country readies to lift travel restrictions and ease a nationwide curfew at the start of May after experiencing a turbulent period dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

The event, which consists of two open competitions — rapid team and blitz team — is touted to be one of the biggest sporting and cultural events of the year with hundreds of students from the world’s foremost Universities and schools expected to descend on the stoney shores of the French capital.

Chairperson of WCC Tumelo Ranoto, who is fresh from participating in FIDE’s World University Online Chess Championships hosted by the University of Texas, said the institution’s chess club has made significant strides to increase its profile through the unwavering determination of its members.

The third-year BSc in Mathematics and Physics student said the group’s participation in Paris will be an important step towards Wits’ continued passage of excellence in this and other areas.

“The global tournament involves top players from around the world and [offers the perfect] opportunity for Wits chess players to get exposed and be able to develop confidence, overcome fear and stay motivated when playing at international competitions,” said Ranoto.

Second-year Mining Engineering student, Koketso Mathebe, who along with Angela Nkosi and Lunga Fulumeni, is also adding his weight behind the campaign to raise a total sum of R71 000 for the team to participate at the tournament. The funds will go towards financing the group’s flights, accommodation, meals and registration.

Describing the fundraising efforts the chess club have embarked on, Mathebe said it intends on creating an online donation platform. “Also, the sports office has been helpful by organizing radio interviews and publishing posts on various social media platforms,” Mathebe explained.

“Chess is everything to me. I want to play chess professionally and it all can begin with this tournament since chess in South Africa is not yet that developed. With this opportunity, my dream of [one day] becoming a chess grandmaster can be possible.”

Tebogo Rabothata, a sports officer at Wits Sport, said invitations to international tournaments such as this demonstrates the quality of the institution’s chess programme. “This is the second time since I have been managing Wits Chess that our students have been invited to represent the club internationally and its speaks volumes of the quality of players we have.

“I’m quiet sure that everyone associated with Wits or the Wits community will be proud to see our students representing the institution at such a high profile event. This will encourage other students, not only from Wits Chess, to improve and to have that desire to get this kind of achievement,” said Rabothata.

 Wits Chess Players: Koketso Mathebe, Angela Nkosi, Tumelo Ranoto and  Lunga Fulumeni