Bongolethu to Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025

My name is Bongolethu Ncethelo, a chess player from Khayelitsha, Cape Town and a student at IIE Rosebank College, Cape Town Campus, where I am studying Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

I have been officially selected to represent South Africa in the U20 Open section at the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025, which will be held from 8–17 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete against some of the best young players in the world, and I am determined to make the most of it.

 ♟️ My Chess Journey

Growing up in Khayelitsha, opportunities often felt limited, but I discovered chess a game that changed my life. Chess taught me discipline, patience, and resilience. With limited resources but unlimited determination, I started playing in my community and worked my way up through local and national competitions.

One of my proudest moments came in 2024, when I represented South Africa at the African Youth Chess Championship, where I achieved 8th place against tough intern...