Celebrating our champions and their remarkable achievements since 1923.
The Pretoria Chess Club has a long and proud history. We currently host four main tournaments each year:
Since 1923, the Club Championship has awarded the Rooth-Giovannetti Trophy to its winners. This prestigious trophy, donated by E Rooth and CW Giovannetti, holds the names of our champions engraved on its footpiece.
The Club Championship follows a Round Robin format with 10 players competing in the A section. Professor Albert Ponels has won the championship a record 19 times, first claiming the title in 1965. He is still actively involved in the club in 2024.
In addition to the Club Championship, we host the Honouree Club Champion Swiss Tournament, Blitz Club Championship, and Summer Swiss Championship, bringing together players of all skill levels to celebrate their passion for chess.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1923 | FW Dunbar |
| 1924 | FW Dunbar |
| 1925 | WC Walker |
| 1926 | WC Walker |
| 1927 | LD Murray |
| 1928 | WC Walker |
| 1929 | LD Murray |
| 1930 | LD Murray |
| 1931 | S Paiken |
| 1932 | LD Murray |
| 1933 | LD Murray |
| 1934 | WC Walker |
| 1935 | AG Visser |
| 1936 | AG Visser |
| 1937 | LD Murray |
| 1938 | AG Visser |
| 1939 | AG Visser |
| 1940 | LD Murray |
| 1941 | LD Murray |
| 1942 | LD Murray |
| 1943 | LD Murray |
| 1944 | LD Murray |
| 1945 | LD Murray |
| 1946 | LD Murray |
| 1947 | LD Murray |
| 1948 | K Dreyer |
| 1949 | K Dreyer |
| 1950 | K Dreyer |
| 1951 | LD Murray |
| 1952 | J van Dyk |
| 1953 | J van Dyk |
| 1954 | J van Dyk |
| 1955 | J van Dyk |
| 1956 | J van Dyk |
| 1957 | MJM Bennett |
| 1958 | J van Dyk |
| 1959 | HH Pfeiffer |
| 1960 | JG du Preez |
| 1961 | J van Dyk |
| 1962 | J van Dyk, P Kroon |
| 1963 | P Kroon |
| 1964 | JG du Preez, G de Villiers |
| 1965 | P Kroon, AA Ponelis |
| 1966 | P Kroon |
| 1967 | PJS Robbertse |
| 1968 | A Haller |
| 1969 | PJS Robbertse, A Haller |
| 1970 | AA Ponelis |
| 1971 | P Aalbersberg |
| 1972 | G de Villiers, PJS Robbertse, DP Laurie |
| 1973 | PJS Robbertse |
| 1974 | P Aalbersberg |
| 1975 | MC Wright |
| 1976 | AA Ponelis |
| 1977 | AA Ponelis |
| 1978 | AA Ponelis |
| 1979 | C van der Meyden |
| 1980 | R van Niekerk |
| 1981 | AA Ponelis |
| 1982 | VFJ Blasl |
| 1983 | AA Ponelis |
| 1984 | AA Ponelis |
| 1985 | AA Ponelis, A Goosen |
| 1986 | AA Ponelis |
| 1987 | AA Ponelis |
| 1988 | A Schutte |
| 1989 | J Moolman |
| 1990 | DJ Laurie |
| 1991 | GA Paszczyk |
| 1992 | AA Ponelis |
| 1993 | GA Paszczyk |
| 1994 | AA Ponelis |
| 1995 | GA Paszczyk |
| 1996 | GA Paszczyk |
| 1997 | WJH Nelson |
| 1998 | NJ Wiechers |
| 1999 | AA Ponelis |
| 2000 | AA Ponelis, H Steyn, J de Wet |
| 2001 | AA Ponelis |
| 2002 | H Steyn |
| 2003 | AA Ponelis |
| 2004 | AA Ponelis |
| 2005 | AA Ponelis |
| 2006 | PE van der Walt |
| 2007 | A Heyns |
| 2008 | H Steyn |
| 2009 | FP Senekal |
| 2010 | G Plint |
| 2011 | G Plint |
| 2012 | J Wilken |
| 2013 | C Bornheim |
| 2014 | J Wilken |
| 2015 | WJH Nelson |
| 2016 | J Wilken |
| 2017 | N Stevanovic |
| 2018 | G Plint |
| 2019 | N Stevanovic |
| 2020 | N Stevanovic, FP Senekal |
| 2021 | E Mare |
| 2022 | H Steyn |
| 2023 | N Stevanovic |
| 2024 | N Stevanovic |
Since 2015, this tournament is held at the beginning of the year and named after the previous year's Club Champion. The format is a 7-round Swiss tournament open to all members.
| Year | Tournament Name | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Justin Wilken Swiss | N Wilson |
| 2016 | Jaco Nelson Swiss | N Kasprzyk |
| 2017 | Justin Wilken Swiss | W Pretorius |
| 2018 | Nedjo Stevanovic Swiss | FP Senekal |
| 2019 | Graeme Plint Swiss | FP Senekal |
| 2020 | Nedjo Stevanovic Swiss | FP Senekal |
| 2021 | Stevanovic-Senekal Swiss | E Mare |
| 2022 | Eben Mare Swiss | N Stevanovic |
| 2023 | Hans Steyn Swiss | N Stevanovic |
| 2024 | Nedjo Stevanovic Swiss | N Stevanovic |
Introduced in 2015, this fast-paced tournament uses a double round-robin format with each game played in 10 minutes per side.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2015 | N Wilson |
| 2016 | N Stevanovic |
| 2017 | N Stevanovic |
| 2018 | CH Marais |
| 2019 | FP Senekal |
| 2020 | Tournament did not take place due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | H Steyn |
| 2022 | H Steyn |
| 2023 | H Steyn |
| 2024 | N Stevanovic |
Starting in 2015, this tournament is held toward the end of the year with a 7-round Swiss format. All members are welcome to participate.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2015 | FP Senekal, AA Ponelis |
| 2016 | FP Senekal |
| 2017 | N Stevanovic |
| 2018 | R Swart |
| 2019 | N Stevanovic |
| 2020 | Tournament did not take place due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | Tournament did not take place due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 | PE van der Walt |
| 2023 | N Stevanovic |
| 2024 | E Boheim |