Cape Town - Renowned African women’s chess champion Jesse February will compete in several activities to promote gender equality in sports along the West Coast this week.
February, who earned her title of Woman FIDE Master in 2015, and Woman International Master in 2016, will be participating in several activities starting from today as part of a partnership with Club Mykonos, the West Coast Chess Union and Western Cape Chess Association.
The Women’s Month tournament will see 45 players per playing venue.
The Gqeberha-born chess champion said the aim of the activities is to promote gender equality in sports as well as exposing rural youth to international chess masters.
“The first Women’s Month tournament I participated in was in 2019.
“It will be held at Mykonos in Langebaan again this year.
“It’s a great initiative promoting women’s chess and encourages the growth of the game.
“This week I will be involved in activities such as chess lectures and simultaneous exhibitions. I cannot wait to play again. The venue is excellent and the organizers do a great job in marketing the event,” she said.
February has also represented South Africa in the Women’s Chess Olympiad of 2016 and 2018 as the number one rated female South African.
In 2017 and 2019 she won the Women’s Section of the South African Chess Championship.
President of Western Cape Chess Association, Andre Lewaks said they were excited to have February playing in their tournament, and were proud of work that she has done so far to promote chess among previous disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape.
“This tournament is an very important tournament on our annual calendar and highlights the gains made to promote women’s participation in sports. We will have a mixed section (men and women) that will play in the tournament to promote gender equality and to highlight the role that men should play to support women’s participation in Sports,” Lewaks said.
Registration for the women's month tournament can be done: https://tinyurl.com/nhwz23d7
Cape Times