Reflections by Advocate Lyndon Bouah

One of the things about chess that has struck me over the last few days has been the number of families involved in chess. There are chess families in every community with some being more prominent than others. In Cape Town we have the Willenberg family who will require their own article to reflect on. We have the Gluckman family although not all the brothers play. In 1991 I played nearly the entire family in the Unity event. In round one I played Gary Gluckman, in round two I played Ivan Gluckman and in round five I played Jonathan Gluckman. The Solomon family from Mitchell's Plain is also very well known having produced the first Grandmaster for South Africa with Kenny being our pride.

Today's article will focus on the Frick family. The Frick family is originally from Pretoria and settled in Cape Town about ten years ago. Women International Master Denise is the current SA Women's Closed Champion and is currently completing her doctorate in Human Movement Science. She played board one for South Africa at two Olympiads and has represented South Africa at the Women's World Championship. She started the Tukkies Chess Club in the early 2000's and together with her brother Jacques (who was chairman of the club) ran the Tukkies hostel league which had over 100 players. These days, still sharing their passion for coaching, Jacques and Denise coach together once a week at a local primary school.

Jacques is a full-time chess coach in Cape Town and has represented Boland in a number of Inter Unions and has also coached for South Africa. He plays for Stellenbosch chess club and has recently acquired his WP Pool colours. He also has provincial colours in Karate and is a proud brown belt!

The youngest, Tertius, has also been a keen chess player and indeed very talented. He participated for years and represented Gauteng North on numerous occasions. Tertius exchanged the chess pieces for table tennis for which he got Provincial colours. He was also a keen karateka and attained his provincial colours for that.

Mrs Esme Frick is an artist and makes them lovely chess designs that we have seen at many events. The players love these events and as can be seen by the accompanying pictures the chess art (and eats) over the last few years has really been extraordinary. Having three 'chess children' who often competed against each other in tournaments had its challenges, especially in crucial matches when both the winner and the loser come back to the same home afterwards! She has always been a pillar of support, keeping the spirits up and seeing to it that everyone eats healthy and drink their vitamins during tournaments! Nowadays Mrs. Frick is also a qualified MiniChess Teacher!

Mr Danie Frick works in an area called Brandvlei in the Northern Cape. He has recently taken it upon himself to teach the local community the beauty of chess. The Frick family sponsored chess boards and sets and now we have the start of a burgeoning chess community in Brandvlei. Danie's involvement in chess dates back to the junior years of Jacques, Denise and Tertius. Danie was a keen team manager for Gauteng North to the SAJCA Nationals for a number of years. He is

also the one who taught all three Frickies to play chess. For those who are wondering Brandvlei is here:

A tournament was organised a week ago and the local players participated. It is these initiatives that are so important for the future of our game. Let's wish the Frick family well in their endeavours to promote the game. They have already produced an Olympian and National Champion in Women International Master Denise Frick.

This is the report from the organiser Mr Danie Frick:

“As background to my report, I wish to add that I have been sent to the Northern Cape town of Brandvlei by my employer on a few occasions for periods of two to three months at a time. During these visits one got to know the town's people, their way of living, their happiness and their sorrows. By doing so, one really becomes part of the community and you start realizing how blessed we are when you compare your own lifestyle with that of the majority of the locals. Things in life that we so easily take for granted, does not even feature as a fantasy or a desire by these people for the simple reason that they are not aware of its existence. Brandvlei lies 147km north of Calvinia, 142km south of Kenhardt and 130km northwest of Williston. Upington is a further 260km north of Brandvlei. From these distances, one can see that this little town is so isolated. Many of the inhabitants of Brandvlei has never been outside the municipal boundaries of the town. Unemployment and alcohol abuse are the main contributing factors towards poverty and subsequent neglect of the children and youth of the community.

The turnoff to Brandvlei

Main road in Brandvlei

Rondomskrik where some of the locals reside

The Manager of my employer, Saltcor in Brandvlei, Richard Jooste approached me with the request to teach his two daughters, aged 9 and 7 a few basic chess moves. My daughter, Denise Frick donated a chess set and board and before I knew it, I was knee-deep in chess coaching, something I had no experience in.

Whilst coaching these two girls, I one day suggested to Richard that we test the water at the local primary school for interest in chess amongst the learners. Should we receive a positive response, we hold a nice informal chess tournament, in the hope that it will stimulate further interest within the community. (No chess coaching at the school and chess equipment is non-existent).

Including Richard's two kids, we had twelve names. Immediately I realized that we had no chess equipment to host a tournament with. My son, Jacques Frick came to our rescue by donating a further five chessboards and chess sets. My wife, Esme and I donated a trophy, a few medals and other small chess items which we could use as prizes at the tournament. Richard and his wife, Chantel offered their house as a venue and also provided hotdogs and cooldrinks for the kids. Chantel also prepared a delicious breakfast for the adults.

The Tournament venue

Tournament director's table

The tournament was open with prayer after which the rules were explained

left: Richard opening the tournament with prayer right: Danie explaining some rules:

The Vice Principal of the Brandvlei Intermediary school, Mr Mclean, attended and was very inspired by our effort and he expressed the wish for his school to be part of such a tournament in future. Much coaching is needed. Chess equipment is non-existent.

Dominee Peet Neethling, pastor of the local NG Kerk, also stopped by, took a few photos which he projected onto a big screen in church during the morning ceremony on Sunday. He expressed his gratitude towards us for such a community project which we have initiated.

We decided to name the tournament The Brandvlei Open Chess Tournament which will be held annually. The tournament was scheduled to start at 08h00 on Saturday morning, 17 October. The players were so keen about this event, they were all present at 07h00 already. Neither of them had participated in a tournament before. I had to explain the rules, act as tournament director, be arbiter, do the pairings, kept score and handled the prize-giving. The ages of the players varied from 7 - 14 years of age. I think it will be appropriate to name all 12 players, since this was a historic event, in the sense that this was the first open chess tournament ever to be played in this isolated part of our country.

The players were, in alphabetical order:

Marna Brundyn Lee-Jane Isaacs

Anthony Jansen Ivana Jooste

Ruth Jooste Johntra Persens

Denuquin Ryk Monica Spanneberg

Lee-Stanton Strauss Keenan Sterkse

Shermon Van Schalkwyk Jonathan Vollenhoven

Results:

3rd  Place Denuquin Ryk 3.5/5

2nd Place Anthony Jansen 4/5

1st. Place Shermon Van Schalkwyk 4.5/5

The winners!

Due to the financial constraints which face the parents of most of the children in the area, we felt that we could not charge an entry fee to the tournament.

It is our intention to start a chess club in Brandvlei. We have decided to name the club: Brandvlei Ruiters Skaakklub.

Here is sufficient interest, but once again, the lack of funds is the largest constraint which hampers progress. Time will hopefully bring positive solutions.

I herewith conclude my report.

CHESS GREETINGS FROM BRANDVLEI

DANIE FRICK.