14 year old Hlumisa Vuso from Port Elizabeth was one of the athletes who took part in the Schools National Championships 2016. After 9 rounds of Chess, she scored 7 1/2 and placed first in the under 15 girls category. Although it was her first time coming to these championships, Hlumisa is a testament to the depth of talent in the Eastern Cape.
“The experience of the championships was really good. I’ve been to a lot of tournaments of this nature so it was like I was playing against my friends. I really enjoyed the tournament a lot” she said. Hlumisa’s gold medal led to her being chosen to represent South Africa in Chess Championships in Russia, this coming December.
“It still hasn’t yet sunk in, hence I don’t really know what to expect in Russia. But I’m just going to go there and play the Chess that I know” an excited Hlumisa said. Hlumisa hopes that this opportunity will open up academic doors for her and also give her the confidence she needs to go further with her Chess, “This is a stepping stone in the right direction”
Hlumisa started playing Chess as a Grade 1 learner. At first she played for fun but after 3 years realised that Chess was her sport, “When I wasn’t at a Chess tournament, I felt incomplete,” In Agust 2016, Hlumisa will be taking part in the African Youth Championships in Zambia, “I want to get my title, that is what I’m working towards. I want to be a Candidate Master and the Fide Master. My long term goal is to be a Grand Master, the top in female chess.”
At the time of the interview, Hlumisa had not yet informed her family about her being chosen to represent the country in Russia but she was confident that they would be very excited to hear of her achievements.
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- The Countdown On – Mind Matters Is Taking Over Cape Town Before Taking the Conversation Global - 28 September 2026
- Why Digital Equity Is South Africa’s New Frontier for Women’s Empowerment – By Matebe Chisiza-Asukile and Natasha Mboyisa - 25 September 2026
- New Champions Rise at the 2026 Street Lines Skate Tournament - 23 September 2026
- When Manufacturers Have a ‘Beef’ Then Both Suffer - 23 September 2026
- How Much Are You Worth per Year to Your Bank? - 23 September 2026
