Dewald Coetsee -World Youth Chess Championships

Dewald Coetsee, a Grade 12 learner at Gimnasium Potchefstroom with an incredible passion for chess, has been playing for the Tshwane Chess Region since Gr 5. He participated in the SAJCCC (South African Junior Closed Chess Championships) in the Under‑18 Open section during the recent school holidays. Only the top qualifying players in the country are invited to participate in this prestigious championship.

After 6 days and 9 rounds of intense concentration and perseverance, with individual games lasting up to four and a half hours each, Dewald achieved first place and was crowned the 2026 Under‑18 Junior Chess Champion of South Africa.

With this exceptional achievement, Dewald also concludes his junior chess career on a high note.

Dewald has now been invited, as an official player of South Africa, to represent the country at the FIDE World Youth Chess Championship 2026, to be held in Montesilvano, Italy, from 14–27 June 2026.

As is the case with all state‑run institutions in South Africa, no funding is avai...