Queen’s College Learners Impress at Mzansi Youth Chess Championships

Queen’s College Boys’ High School learners delivered strong and disciplined performances after representing the Eastern Cape at the Mzansi Interprovincial Youth Chess Championships (MIYCC), which took place last week in Gqeberha.

The MIYCC is one of South Africa’s premier youth chess events, bringing together the country’s top junior players to compete in both individual and team competitions. Facing elite opposition from across all provinces, the Queen’s College contingent competed with confidence and pride, contributing meaningfully to Eastern Cape results at national level.

Individual Performances Against Top National Opposition

In the Under 18 Open individual competition, four Queen’s College players tested themselves against some of the strongest youth players in the country.

• Palo Mwelwa completed a solid tournament, finishing with 4 out of 6 games, which placed him 17th overall in a highly competitive field.

• Elam Mqweba recorded 3½ out of 6 games, showing consistency throughout the rounds.

• Bala Magwentshu finished with 2½ out of 6 games, gaining valuable experience at national level.

• Lukhanyiso Njenjesi completed the event with 2 out of 6 games, competing bravely against strong opposition.

In the Under 16 Open category, Awothando Ndabambi represented Queen’s College with distinction, finishing the tournament with 3 out of 6 games.

Strong Team Contributions for Eastern Cape

Alongside the individual events, the championships featured a demanding teams tournament, where provincial sides competed across multiple boards.

The standout performance from the Queen’s College group came from Elam Mqweba, who played on Board 5 for Eastern Cape A. His team finished second overall, a significant national result for the province. Elam remained undefeated throughout the tournament, finishing with 5 out of 6 games, and was awarded the Board 5 prize for his performance.

Other Queen’s College players also made important contributions across different Eastern Cape teams:

• Eastern Cape B

  • Board 3: Palo Mwelwa – 2 out of 6 games

  • Board 9: Bala Magwentshu – 2½ out of 6 games

• Eastern Cape C

  • Board 3: Lukhanyiso Njenjesi – 3½ out of 6 games

In the Under 16 teams section, Awothando Ndabambi represented Eastern Cape B on Board 6, finishing with a strong 4 out of 6 games. His contribution helped the team secure an impressive fourth-place finish nationally.

Chess Continues to Grow at Queen’s College

The performances at MIYCC reflect the continued growth of chess at Queen’s College, where learners are increasingly competing on provincial and national stages. Participation at events of this level exposes players to high-pressure competition while developing critical thinking, discipline, and resilience.

As chess continues to strengthen its presence within the school’s sporting programme, results such as these underline Queen’s College’s ability to nurture excellence beyond traditional sports codes.

Gratitude for Community Support

The school has expressed its appreciation to the families and Queen’s College Old Boys, whose ongoing time, encouragement, and support make national participation possible. Their commitment plays a vital role in ensuring that learners can access opportunities to compete at the highest levels.

With strong performances in both individual and team competitions, the Queen’s College players returned from Gqeberha having represented their school and province with distinction.