The City of Cape Town’s Chess@Libraries initiative is turning quiet library halls into buzzing community hubs, one strategic move at a time.
It comes after the City reported that the number of participants in the annual Chess@Libraries tournament has more than doubled since it first began in 2023.
This year, 33 libraries across Cape Town were represented at the finals, held on 9 October at the Parow Civic Centre, marking yet another milestone in what’s fast becoming one of the City’s most inclusive and educational community programmes.
Far from being just a pastime, chess has become a ‘tool for developing concentration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills’ among participants. Across more than 30 libraries, players of all ages, from curious beginners to seasoned competitors, are finding not only recreation but also a sense of belonging.
At present, more than half of the City’s 102 libraries host regular chess sessions, averaging between three and five events per month. And with no age limits or experience required, everyone is welcome to pull up a chair and learn the art of strategy.
The journey from 2023 to 2025 has been remarkable, as participation grew from 70 players in 19 libraries to over 160 competitors representing 33 libraries this year.
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Qualifying rounds were held between April and August across over 50 libraries, including Southfield, Gugulethu, Woodstock, and Elsies River, drawing crowds of enthusiastic players. These local champions then advanced to the finals, which saw strong representation from libraries such as Goodwood, Moses Mabhida, and Kensington.
The event, which is supported by the Western Province Chess Federation, showcased talent from every corner of the city. The federation also provided essential equipment and technical support to ensure the tournament ran smoothly.
Meet the champions
At the close of the tournament, the winners were crowned in two main sections, experienced and developmental, reflecting the inclusive nature of the initiative.
Experienced Section:
• 1st Place: Sandiso Kedama (22) – Crossroads Library
• 2nd Place: Roy Mutunhire (25) – Kraaifontein Library
• 3rd Place: Tezihani Mnyasta (20) – Parow Library
• Best Female Player: Courtney Musakwa (15) – Athlone Library
Developmental Section:
• 1st Place: Kaden Michaels (12) – Rocklands Library
• 2nd Place: Damon Doidge (9) – Tokai Library
Councillor Francine Higham, who is the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, praised the initiative’s impact.
‘Our libraries continue to prove that they are some of the coolest spaces in our city, finding innovative ways of inspiring and developing young and old alike,’ she stated.
She highlighted that this year introduced a developmental section for players with less formal ranking, encouraging participation across all skill levels.
‘Our youngest player was seven, and the oldest 71, proving that with chess, age is just a number,’ she added.
Plans are already in motion to expand chess clubs even further, introduce training programmes for library staff, and strengthen partnerships with community organisations.
Councillor Higham emphasised that by ‘weaving chess into the fabric of library services,’ the City is nurturing not just sharper minds but stronger communities.
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Picture: CoCT/Facebook
