Discover the rich history of the Pretoria Chess Club, dating back to 1889.
The Pretoria Chess Club originated in 1889. Mr RL Reitstein from Cape Town wrote a book entitled “The History of Chess in South Africa from the Beginning to 1939.” The following information was sourced from the March 1892 edition of “Chess Monthly (England)” and the “British Chess Magazine”:
“On 24 October 1891 the Pretoria Chess Club and the Johannesburg Chess Club contested a six-a-side match at the President Hotel in Pretoria. Two weeks later on 7 November 1891, a return match was played in Johannesburg.”
Die Pretoria Skaakklub bestaan reeds sedert 1889. Mnr RL Reitstein van Kaapstad het ‘n boek getiteld “The history of chess in South Africa from the beginning to 1939.” geskryf. Hy het die onderstaande inligting in die Maart 1892 uitgawe van “Chess Monthly (England)” asook die “British Chess Magazine” opgespoor.
The first (handwritten) minutes in the club’s archive are dated 29 July 1911, but member lists show the following dates for the first members:
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1902 | LR Kroep, J Lavoirpierre, JW Mogg, CJ Sandstrom |
| 1903 | S Spira |
| 1904 | EC Hooper |
| 1905 | EF Linder, J Turkstra, GA Napier |
| 1906 | CW Clare, FS Turton |
| 1907 | G Buckley, Dr Gey v Pittius, B Pein, M v Tyen |
| 1908 | TJ Barry, E Galpin, JC Kotze, K Malherbe, BP Westmaas |
| 1909 | Dr Gairdner, S Galgut, W Lipshits, LR Tibbet |
| 1910 | FC Clarke, H Duhan, CH Hirschowitch, FJ Kruger, Major Knight, J Kuiper, W Lane, PA Myburgh, Dr W Malherbe, J Stoker, GA Sandstrom, J van Luyn, PG van Breda |