South Africa’s chess teams came home from the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with two new international titles. Several players also beat grandmasters during the event, IOL reported.
The teams returned home on 27 September 2026. The open team finished 82nd and the women’s team finished 96th. Teams from about 200 nations took part.
South Africa sent its youngest open team ever to the Olympiad. The five players had an average age of about 20.
Charlton Mnyasta, a first-time player from Elsies River in Cape Town, led the way. He scored 6½ points from 10 games, a 65% win rate. His results earned him the FIDE Master title.
The young open team drew 2 to 2 against Italy, the 26th seed. It also drew 2 to 2 against Cuba, the 44th seed.
In those two matches, four South Africans each beat a grandmaster. They were Mnyasta, International Master Caleb Levitan, International Master Jan Karsten and FIDE Master Banele Mhango.
Levitan is 16 years old. He first played at an Olympiad at the age of 14, in Budapest in 2024.
The open team was led by captain International Master Henry Steel from Stellenbosch.
The women’s team mixed young players with very experienced ones. Its captain was Grandmaster Kenny Solomon from Mitchells Plain. In 2015 he became South Africa’s first grandmaster, and he has played in 11 Olympiads.
Under Solomon, the women beat Costa Rica and Luxembourg. Both teams were seeded higher than South Africa.
Woman International Master Anzel Laubscher played in her eighth Olympiad. She first played for the country 28 years ago, in 1998. Woman FIDE Master Chloe Badenhorst played on the top board with her, at her third Olympiad.
Sizakele Masango went to Samarkand without ever having played for South Africa. She came back with the Woman FIDE Master title.
Masango was the top scorer in the women’s team. She won 6 points from 10 games.
Titles such as grandmaster, international master and FIDE master are open to both men and women. FIDE also gives separate titles that only women can earn.
Other players in the South African squads included Hayley Nel, Robyn Julian Klaasen, James Dinham and Shaun Levitan.
At the top of the event, host nation Uzbekistan won gold in the open section. China won the women’s section.
The next Chess Olympiad will be held in Abu Dhabi in 2028.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.