South African Open (chess)

The South African Open is a chess tournament played in South Africa. It was first held in 1962.

History First held in 1962, the SA Open was held every two years until 1995, after which it has been held annually. It was not held in 1992 due to the unification of the various sports bodies after apartheid.

Open winners

+ South African OpenYear Venue Winner Score Players Best South African player2026Cape TownCharlton Mnyasta7/945Charlton Mnyasta2025JohannesburgJames Dinham8.5/1147James Dinham2024DurbanKhanya Mazibuko 8.5/1178Khanya Mazibuko2022Cape TownDaniel Cawdery9/1196Daniel Cawdery2019KimberleyJohannes Mabusela7½/969Johannes Mabusela2018BloemfonteinSahaj Grover10/11Daniel Cawdery2017DurbanSahaj Grover10/11125Watu Kobese2016 Cape Town Aleksa Striković 9½/11 548 Watu Kobese2015 Cape Town Nigel Short 9/11 ? Kenny Solomon2014 Bloemfontein Merab Gagunashvili 10/11 ? Johannes Mabusela2013 Port Elizabeth Abhijeet Gupta 9/11 ? Watu Kobese2012 Cape Town Rodwell Makoto 9/11 326 Johannes Mabusela2011 Johannesburg Gawain Jones 9½/11 388 Nicholas van der Nat2010 Johannesburg Robert Gwaze 7½/9 206 Kgaugelo Mosetlhe2009 Cape Town Amon Simutowe 9½/11 204 Nicholas van der Nat2008 Centurion Watu Kobese 9½/11 159 Watu Kobese2007 Cape Town Kenny Solomon 9½/11 159 Kenny Solomon2006 Port Elizabeth Gawain Jones 10½/11 155 Watu Kobese2005 Bloemfontein Kenny Solomon 9½/11 191 Kenny Solomon2004 Cape Town Watu Kobese 10/11 263 Watu Kobese2003 Centurion Stanley Chumfwa 10½/11 173 Kenny Solomon2002 Port Elizabeth Ronnie van Tonder 9/11 181 Ronnie van Tonder2001 Cape Town Mark Levitt 9½ ? Mark Levitt2000 Alberton Amon Simutowe 10½/11 89 Andre Nel1999 Cape Town Kenny Solomon ?/11 ? Kenny Solomon1998 PretoriaAmon Simutowe ? ? Mark Rubery1997 Cape Town Gordon Meyer 9½/11 >300 Gordon Meyer1996DurbanMark Levitt & Solly MaubaMark Levitt1995DurbanGavin Wall & Mark LevittMark Levitt1993DurbanGeorge Michelakis & Malcolm PeinGeorge Michelakis1990JohannesburgJames PlaskettShabier Bhawoodien1988Port ElizabethDavid GluckmanDavid Gluckman1986JohannesburgMark LevittMark Levitt1984DurbanMichael SteanMark Rubery1982JohannesburgDavid Sprenkle & Albert PonelisAlbert Ponelis1980Port ElizabethYair Kraidman & Charles de VilliersCharles de Villiers1978DurbanCraig PritchettPeter Abbott1976 aurthurs seat hotel, sea point. cape town Miguel Najdorf and Michael Stean ? ? ?1974Durban (the 7th S A Open) Albert Ponelis and Eddie Price9/11154Albert Ponelis and Eddie Price1972Port ElizabethBob Griffiths10/1142Bob Griffiths1970East LondonBrian DonnellyBrian Donnelly1968Cape TownKurt DreyerKurt Dreyer1966DurbanBob GriffithsBob Griffiths1964 WildernessLothar Schmid 11/11 ? Melvin Hope1962 Wilderness Harry Golombek & Alberic O'Kelly ? ? JJ Leicher

Ladies winners + South African OpenYear Venue Winner Score Players Best South African player2026Cape TownJoya Imkhita8/920Joya Imkhita2025JohannesburgSizakele Masango9.5/1144Sizakele Masango

References