Marianne Merten
Cape Flats chess champion Kenny Willenberg (16) has qualified for the African under-21 champion in Nigeria later this year after winning the prestigious domestic closed championships he almost missed out on.
Growing up in the gang-ridden, high-crime area of Belhar on the Cape Flats, Kenny and his younger brother Craig (14) have beaten the odds to attain both national and provincial honours in their respective age groups.
The teenagers almost missed out on participating in the prestigious championships because of financial difficulties before generous Mail & Guardian readers stepped in and funded their trip.
The brothers are third-generation chess players, who at the age of four learnt the basic moves during their uncles’ games at their home.
Last week Kenny won the by-invitation-only South African Closed Championships in Pretoria with one point a convincing victory in the game.
Craig just missed the top 10 at the tournament.
The brothers are also set to compete at the World Youth Chess Festival in Spain later this year.
And at the end of the year they will defend their respective national titles in Durban as another Mail & Guardian reader has stepped in with financial support in the sponsorship-scarce sport.