Durbanville man wins City libraries chess tournament

David Baxter, 32, from Durbanville, won the final leg of the City’s Chess@Libraries tournament, which was held in Parow on Friday last week.

Mr Baxter, who represented the Durbanville library, said he fell in love with chess while still at high school

“I was just playing chess a bit, and it was an after-school activity. So I just went to go play. They always gave a position to see where you would finish. First time I tried it, I came second, and I was so surprised that I actually did well. With no training, absolutely nothing. So I wanted to win, that is how I fell in love with the game.”

Second place went to Romeo Raubenheimer, from Adriaanse library, while Llewellyn Louw, from Parow library took third place.

Phelisa Ntabeni, from Crossroads library, was crowned the top female player of the tournament.

Libraries held mini tournaments throughout the year to determine the finalists, and this year’s tournament was the biggest one with 150 players at the finals, up from 70 last year, the City said.

This year’s event saw 31 libraries register to participate.

“There is not a better place than libraries for chess. Aside from the quiet spaces we provide, there is also the fact that the entire concept of chess@libraries is the brainchild of one of our librarians, Daniel Arendse, who noticed children crowding around chess tables and saw the potential,” said Patricia van der Ross, the mayoral committee member for community services and health.

Mr Arendse, the senior librarian at Huguenot Square library, said chess had saved his life.

“I was on a track to become a non-productive member of society. I had no focus and vision for my future. Then I discovered this amazing game of strategy and suddenly endless possibilities opened up for me.

“I know chess can have the same impact on the lives of others, so I want to encourage them to come to the library and get involved.”