Curro Durbanville Chess Academy in Association with ACL Delivers Exceptional Results at WP Trials in Worcester
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
The Curro Durbanville Chess Academy, in association with the African Chess Lounge (ACL), proudly showcased its depth of talent at the recent Western Province Chess Trials held in Worcester. With 19 dedicated learners representing schools from across the province but unified under one academy, the team returned with medals, powerful performances, and valuable lessons for the road ahead.
This key provincial event brought together some of the brightest young chess minds in the Western Cape—and the academy’s presence was felt strongly across multiple age categories.
🌟 Top Achievers and Medal Winners
Amy Liu (Somerset College) – A flawless 6/6 in the Under-13 Girls, claiming first place.
Callan Manning (Curro Durbanville) – Unbeaten on 6/6 in the Under-11 Boys, finishing first.
Dali Ramonyaluoe (Redham Durbanville) – 5.5/6 in the Under-11 Girls, who sharing first place.
Janko Weideman (Curro Durbanville) – 5/6 in the Under-13 Boys, finishing second and earning silver.
🔹 Consistent and Promising Performances
Danielle Stevens (Curro Hermanus) – 4.5/6 in Under-13 Girls.
Benji Whyatt (Pinelands Primary) – 4.5/6, showing strong potential.
Rossouw Coetzer (Gansbaai Primary) – 4/6, steady throughout.
Jhash Somai (Curro Century City) – 4/6, sharp and focused.
Lily He (Panorama Primary) – 4/6, showing competitive growth.
Kent Lenting (De Kuilen Primary) – 4/6, solid performance.
Madison Lambrechts (Courtrai Primary) – 4/6, a consistent scorer.
Alex Harris (Curro Durbanville) – 4/6 in Under-7 Boys, showing impressive maturity.
🔄 Resilience and Learning Through Competition
Emma Coetzee (Courtrai Primary) – 3/6 in Under-13 Girls. After a difficult first day (0/3), she made a remarkable comeback with 3 wins on Day 2.
Hanro Coetzer (Gansbaai Primary) – 3/6, steady effort.
Kyle Meissenheimer (Jan van Riebeeck Primary) – 3/6, promising talent.
Hannah Shapiro (Grove Primary) – 3/6, growing confidence.
Atlegang Lekau (Oakdale Montessori) – 3/6 in Under-9 Boys, gaining great exposure.
Mila Lambrechts (Courtrai Primary) – 1.5/6 in Under-9 Girls, gaining her first competitive experience.
Giavanna Booysen (Curro Durbanville) – 1/6 in Under-13 Girls, learning valuable lessons and building resilience.
🤝 Many Schools, One Chess Family
Though the learners attend a variety of schools, they are all part of the Curro Durbanville Chess Academy in association with ACL—an elite chess training program offering structured development, tournament preparation, and a community-driven environment for aspiring young players.
This diversity of schools combined with a unified coaching philosophy demonstrates the academy’s core mission: to make high-performance chess development accessible, inclusive, and impactful.
🎯 Moving Forward with Confidence
Sincere thanks to all the parents, school communities, and coaching staff who made this opportunity possible. The Curro Durbanville Chess Academy in association with ACL is proud of every player—medalist or first-timer—for stepping onto the board and giving their best.
With results like these, the message is clear: the future of South African chess is in good hands—and it begins here.