The 2026 South African Closed Chess Championships came to an exciting conclusion after eleven hard-fought rounds held from 21 February to 1 March 2026 at the headquarters of Alexforbes in Sandton. Organized by Chess South Africa, the prestigious round-robin event once again brought together the country’s strongest players to compete for national titles and international rating points.
The tournament was directed by Vicky Magu, with IA Michael Bornheim serving as Chief Arbiter, assisted by Deputy Chief Arbiter FA Anjurie De Wet and FA Karen Taljaard. Players competed under a classical time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes to finish, with a 30-second increment from move one.
The event featured an impressive average rating of 2211 and an average player age of just 24, reflecting both strength and the growing youth presence in South African chess.
Open Section — Karsten Claims the Title
International Master Jan Karsten emerged as the 2026 South African Closed Champion, scoring a dominant 8/11. Karsten showed remarkable consistency throughout the event, finishing clear first after a strong final stretch.
Second place went to IM Caleb Levi Levitan with 7.5 points, while FM Banele Mhango secured third on 6.5 points after tiebreaks.
Final Top 5 — Open Section
- IM Jan Karsten — 8.0
- IM Caleb Levi Levitan — 7.5
- FM Banele Mhango — 6.5
- Charlton Mnyasta — 6.5
- James Dinham — 6.5
Notably, the event was extremely competitive, with five players finishing on 6.5 points and tiebreaks determining podium positions.
Women’s Section — Laubscher Wins on Tiebreak
The Women’s Championship delivered an especially dramatic finish, with the top two players tied on 8/11.
WIM Anzel Laubscher claimed the national title on superior tiebreaks ahead of WFM Chloe Badenhorst, while WCM Hayley Nel took third place with 7.5 points.
Final Top 5 — Women’s Section
- WIM Anzel Laubscher — 8.0
- WFM Chloe Badenhorst — 8.0
- WCM Hayley Nel — 7.5
- Robyn Julian Klaasen — 7.5
- Sizakele Masango — 6.0
The close finish highlighted the rising strength and depth in South African women’s chess.
Follow the Games
Fans nationwide were able to follow the action live via broadcast boards on Lichess, bringing South Africa’s premier chess event to an international audience.
👉 Live games archive:
https://lichess.org/broadcast/sa-adult-closed-2026-open/1M6nyxHX
Closing Remarks
The 2026 edition of the South African Closed Championships showcased a compelling blend of established masters and emerging talent. With strong performances across both sections and a closely contested women’s title race, the tournament once again affirmed its role as the pinnacle of national classical chess competition.
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