Curro Durbanville excel in chess
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Curro Durbanville’s Unstoppable Run to the 2025 Western Province BattleBoards Title. Curro Durbanville has emerged as the 2025 Western Province BattleBoards Champions, delivering an outstanding series of performances that showcased talent, teamwork, and determination.
Our journey began with a commanding 6–1 victory over Van Reede High School. Despite a minor setback caused by a disconnection that affected Jesse Palmer’s game, the team made a strong statement to open the event. In Round 2, we continued our dominant form with a clean 7–0 sweep against Melkbosstrand High School. After a well-earned rest during our Round 3 bye, the team returned reinvigorated to defeat Robinvale High School 6.5–0.5 in Round 4. The round-robin phase concluded in emphatic fashion as we blanked Bishop Lavis High School 7–0, securing our place in the knockout stages with an unbeaten record. In the quarterfinals, we faced Albertinia High School and earned another convincing 6–1 win. The semifinal clash against Paarl Gimnasium was a true test of composure and preparation, and the team rose to the occasion with a decisive 5–2 victory—clinching the Western Province title and qualifying for the 2025 National BattleBoards Championships.
Curro Durbanville Squad:
• Reegan Palmer
• Jesse Palmer
• Chase Salimu
• Amahle Zenzile
• Trinity Van Beeck
• Dylan Ashworth
• Mila Snyman
• Judah Ellapa
• James Wilson
• Logan Priestley
Reflecting on the experience, Mr Reuben Salimu, Head of Chess at Curro Durbanville, shared:
“Participating in the Alexforbes Battle Boards 2025 has been an extraordinary milestone for Curro Durbanville. It represents more than just competition—it’s a celebration of excellence, strategy, and the rising standard of schools chess in South Africa. To be part of such a high-level event, where top schools compete in a hybrid format, validates the strength and depth of our chess program. The experience sharpened our team’s focus and reaffirmed our belief in investing in talent from a young age.” “The primary beneficiaries are undoubtedly the learners. They gain exposure to high-stakes competition, an opportunity to test themselves against top opposition, and grow both technically and mentally. At the same time, schools benefit from the visibility and prestige that comes with participation. Events like this also uplift the broader chess community by raising the bar for what school chess can look like when done professionally.”
“This event has been a game changer. Our team came into the competition prepared, but the level of play and the stakes pushed them to rise even higher. Out of all our matches, we only dropped 3 game points—a testament to the depth and preparation of our squad. Competing in such an elite environment has cemented a culture of high performance and given our players the confidence and hunger to keep growing. It’s events like this that shape champions.” As Western Province champions, Curro Durbanville now looks ahead to the National BattleBoards Championships, proud to represent our region and eager to compete on the national stage.
