South Africa

Historical background

In 1934 Huxley St. John-Brooks founded the South African Correspondence Chess Association (SACCA). This was the first national chess body that ever existed in South Africa. The first counter-part in over the board chess only came into existence 14 years later in 1948 when the South African Chess Federation was founded.

SACCA is still in existence today as the one and only national correspondence chess (CC) body. The membership has never been very numerous as it must be kept in mind that the climate in this country is very user friendly. With over 300 days of sunshine per year, outdoor activities get all the support.

Administration

The administration of SACCA has always been in the hands of a committee consisting of a president, vice president and secretary. The latter runs the day to day activities with the former two supervising and ensuring that all the members’ interests are upheld. The present committee is:

• President and ICCF Delegate: Everdinand Knol
• Vice-president: Vacant (after the sudden death of Pieter Kemp)
• Secretary: Iain Edward Smuts

Activities for Members

Members can participate in single and double round robin events and receive a national rating. Thematic tournaments are also held from time to time. Friendly team matches against other national federations (NF) have also been held over the years.

The only events of significant stature are the national championships. These consist of round robin tournaments made up of member players who qualified over a period of time as well as “wild cards” invited by the committee. The maximum number of participants (excepting for the 1950-52 event) has been 16.

The 4th national championship (1950-52) was a special one. A total of 53 participants who qualified or were invited took part in the largest correspondence chess tournament ever held in South Africa. There were nine preliminary groups with a maximum of six players each playing a double round robin. This was followed by a final single round robin of 12 players. Chris J Hayes – one of the greatest CC players that our country has ever produced – eventually won the event.

A book entitled “South African Correspondence Chess Championship Tournament 1950-1952” was written and published by our former president Leonard Raymond Reitstein. It is the only book published in South Africa pertaining to CC.

During 1998, a new event in the form of a national open championship was launched. Here the format of six player double round robin preliminary events and a single round robin final was adhered to. The tournament was open to all players and was won by Everdinand Knol.

National CC Champions of South Africa

ICCF Titles and Medals Awarded to SACCA Members

IM=International CC Master; SIM=Senior International CC Master; GM=CC Grandmaster; IA=International Arbiter of the ICCF