While the
Commonwealth Championship ended in a deserving victory for GM Abhijeet
Gupta, its conclusion was overshadowed by some prestigious VIP guests:
South African president Jacob Zuma and former world champion Garry
Kasparov. Zuma revealed that as a political prisoner he had played chess
with soap pieces and driftwood. Today they celebrate Nelson Mandela's
95th birthday.
- Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma in his speech during the closing ceremony.
Afrikaans! One of the eleven official languages of South Africa adopted words from languages such as Malay, Portuguese, the Bantu languages, and the Khoisan languages, but an estimated 90 to 95 percent of Afrikaans vocabulary is ultimately of Dutch origin. Therefore, differences with Dutch often lie in a more regular morphology, grammar and spelling of Afrikaans. Here for example, "Inkomstegebou" in Afrikaans (income building), would be spelled in Dutch as "Inkomsten gebouw" - for a native Dutch speaker it is quite interesting to see how the "N" and "W" letters 'fell' off the wall.
Source: www.chessbase.com
The sumptuous five-star Boardwalk hotel was the official hotel of the event
„How come you are not smiling this morning?” the young lady placed
at the entrance of the breakfast lounge asked me. My frowning eyes
opened in amazement while I slowed my hurried pace and eventually
froze. Caught in the act, I faced a dilemma: should I try to explain
myself or should I simply change my attitude?!
The promo of the Commonwealth Ch, in cooperation with the Boardwalk hotel,
is displayed again for the...
is displayed again for the...
... special FIDE guests, present for the chess in school project!
You will recognize above the President of Chess South Africa, Emilia
Ellappen, the President of Africa Chess Union, Lakhdar Mazouz, GM Pablo
Lafuente from Argentina (who was working hard for the tournament), the
treasurer and the heart of our beloved Bermuda parties during Olympiads,
Nigel Freeman, and of course the brain behind the entire event:
tournament director - Dr Brian van Zyl, who is a successful lawyer when
he is not organizing chess events.
The chess star is here! I cannot fully describe the hapiness and enthusiasm
shared by amateurs and professionals alike!
shared by amateurs and professionals alike!
Despite his hectic schedule, travelling through six African countries in five days (!),
Garry is still smiling!
These thoughts lasted less than it took me to quiver with surprise
and were immediately followed by the rise of a shining smile on my
face. It was not a grin, a smirk, a simper or a smile of complaisance.
The magic wand of her psychedelic remark had indeed changed something
within me, without requiring a conscious effort on my part! Garry is still smiling!
This is no airport control! Just the usual security measures to welcome the...
...President of South Africa: Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma!
"On Robben Island, chess provided a solace to us that we needed
in those conditions of isolation and deprivation. It propelled our minds
beyond the confines of the prison walls and allowed us to reflect and
to position our thoughts strategically to fight the regime. [...] Many
comrades made chess sets out of soap and driftwood that allowed us to
continue to play this noble and great game. We improvised with makeshift
chess boards and we enjoyed the fullness of the game." - Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma in his speech during the closing ceremony.
South African President Jacob Zuma playing a friendly 20-minute game against the
youngest participant, the five-year-old boy Keagan Rowe. The fighting game ended in
a stalemate - a spectacular finish just like the tournament itself!
While marching down the breakfast room, I continued to chew over the
new experience: the lady had noticed that my mood was different from
other mornings, although she couldn’t have known that I had lost my
game the evening before and was in need of a strong dark coffee after a
bad night sleep. These people really care about others, no matter if
you are a stranger coming from the other end of the world or just the
next door neighbour; their spontaneity and openness are genuine and not
some sort of poem they had to learn by heart. Even the country’s name
reveals honesty by describing the mere geographic reality, as being
settled in the…South; as far as I know, it is the only one of its kind
in the whole world! youngest participant, the five-year-old boy Keagan Rowe. The fighting game ended in
a stalemate - a spectacular finish just like the tournament itself!
Indian GM Abhijeet Gupta
The Indian WGM Soumya Swaminathan finished on a very
good ninth place in the final standings.
good ninth place in the final standings.
IM Rodwell Makoto from Zimbabwe
Although obviously cute, this little girl was hardly the only
child in the tournament.
child in the tournament.
There were many
IM Jovanka Houska from England finished on a great eighth
place (shared fourth) in the final standings.
South Africa unfolds itself at its best, with its soul palpitating
to the hidden rhythm of nature, the same as the fascinating pace of
locals’ traditions. Every year, on July 18th (Mandela's birthday),
South Africans celebrate the Nelson Mandela International Day, as a day
to honour the legacy of South Africa's former President and his
values, through volunteering and community service. The Mandela Day
campaign message is: “Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.”
This global call to action celebrates the idea that each individual
has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact. It
took less than 67 min for the Boardwalk staff to be an eye opener for
me…which proves indeed that if you care, you can make a difference. place (shared fourth) in the final standings.
Chess players enjoyig the 'winter' sun (remember it is in the southern hemisphere)
- 29 degrees Celcius in Port Elizabeth!
- 29 degrees Celcius in Port Elizabeth!
(from right) Tshepo Sitale, zonal President (Zone 4.3), François Strydom,
member
of Chessa Board and member of Fide Constitutional Commission, Lakhdar Mazouz,
President Africa Chess Union, yours truly, and François's brother.
of Chessa Board and member of Fide Constitutional Commission, Lakhdar Mazouz,
President Africa Chess Union, yours truly, and François's brother.
The winner with 9.0/11: Abhijeet Gupta! - courtesy of Leon Hugo. (I was not
allowed to take pictures during the closing ceremony, since the President was
there and security has strict rules).
And this was obvious in the natural progress of the tournament as
well, when things constantly progressed from good to better and best!
Oh, this enthusiastic, sleepless, passionate team behind the
Commonwealth Championship... They didn't run, they didn't hide (from my
endless questions – to give you an example), they didn't scream nor
lour because of the sometimes derisory demands from children, coaches,
parents or... politicians. They just carried on with an impetus that
continues to amaze me. And no matter who or what they had to deal with,
VIPs, protocols, security or mere participants, they sorted out things
in the best possible way and faster than it takes to pull a rabbit out
of a hat!allowed to take pictures during the closing ceremony, since the President was
there and security has strict rules).
With KwaZulu-Natal chess players! This region is the birthplace of many notable
figures in South Africa's history, such as the current President, Jacob Zuma!
Now that I arrived home safely and the tiredness of the journey has
partly melted away, I have the feeling that this tendency will persist
over the years, leading the South African chess movement to an
unprecedented take-off to the heights. How else could it be when Zuma
and Kasparov, two gurus in their field of expertise, attended the
event? You must have discovered by now that celebrities don't want to
spoil their name or stain their image by attending some average or
unimportant event. They actually believed in it, so the obvious
conclusion is that the tournament was worth it!figures in South Africa's history, such as the current President, Jacob Zuma!
The wonders of nature
The beauty of South Africa
The public library
Afrikaans! One of the eleven official languages of South Africa adopted words from languages such as Malay, Portuguese, the Bantu languages, and the Khoisan languages, but an estimated 90 to 95 percent of Afrikaans vocabulary is ultimately of Dutch origin. Therefore, differences with Dutch often lie in a more regular morphology, grammar and spelling of Afrikaans. Here for example, "Inkomstegebou" in Afrikaans (income building), would be spelled in Dutch as "Inkomsten gebouw" - for a native Dutch speaker it is quite interesting to see how the "N" and "W" letters 'fell' off the wall.
"Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day!"
Port Elizabeth Fort Frederick: a stone fort built in 1799 by British troops to defend
the mouth of the Baakens River.
And who knows, maybe over the years South Africa will become a
common chess players’ destination and meeting point, as is the case in
Europe. I wouldn’t be surprised and I would certainly return!
Especially since I faced difficulties in exchanging my SA Rand into
Euros. Each bank I entered - quite a few of them! - presented a
different problem: not enough Euros, no exchange service or written
proof of my money’s provenience. In the end I cannot say anything less
than: it’s a sign – South Africa wants me here, wants a guarantee I
will return. It will be a constant dream for me from now on…the mouth of the Baakens River.
Source: www.chessbase.com
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