The 2023 Chronicle

Oliver Thompson

the game. Moreover, the vast repository of puzzles, practices and lessons available on Chess.com became an invaluable asset to our society, enabling members to hone their skills in a lab- like setting. In May, our very own prodigy, Zhengfei Li, achieved a significant milestone. After clinching first place in the under-14 category at the 2023 South African Junior Closed Chess Championships, he earned the prestigious opportunity to represent South Africa at the: • World Cadet Chess Championships 2023 in Montesilvano, Italy. • 2023 African Youth Chess Championship in Cairo, Egypt. • 2023 Commonwealth Games, with location and dates pending. Zhengfei’s triumphs are a testament to his unparalleled talent and unwavering dedication. We are immensely proud of him and wholeheartedly wish him success in his future endeavours. Come 28 September, Michaelhouse Chess had the honour of competing in the coveted PBHS Derby. In a thrilling face-off against the formidable PBHS team, our representatives displayed exemplary skill and determination. Despite the fierce competition from PBHS, our resilient team managed to secure victories in seven games, faced defeats in 16, and drew one match. Reflecting upon this year and our unyielding commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a passion for chess, we look forward to another year brimming with growth, opportunity and challenge. DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING PROGRAMME Staff: Mrs Sally Cahill, Mr Anele Cebo, Mr Dale Lynch Chairman and Captain of Debating: Muako Maepa AWARDS: Honours: Luke Kaufmann, Seth Segal Full-Colours: Lucien Baldry, Damian Watson, Nathan Strachan, Boitumelo Motsepe, Daniel French Half-Colours: Jude Njeru, Jonathan Boesak, Matthew Longmore, Jack Stevenson, Nicholas French, Jake McDonald, Max Oliva

REPRESENTED KZN AT THE SASDB NATIONAL DEBATING TOURNAMENT 2023 Oliver Thompson

NATIONAL INDEPENDENT AND PUBLIC SPEAKING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023

Seth Segal

Persuasive Speaking: Impromptu Speaking:

1st place 1st place 5th place 2nd place

Luke Kaufmann Luke Kaufmann

Overall: Overall:

Seth Segal Invited as part of the SA delegation to the World Independent and Public Speaking Championships 2024: Luke Kaufmann and Seth Segal

WORLD INDEPENDENT AND PUBLIC SPEAKING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023

Luke Kaufmann

Debating

8th place

PIETERMARITZBURG DEBATING LEAGUE

Connor Wilson Shail Rajkumar Oliver Thompson Luvuyo Tsibani Damian Watson

Grade 8 league Grade 8 league Grade 8 league Junior league Senior league Senior league

10th place 5th place 2nd place 10th place 10th place 7th place

Daniel French

T

he Michaelhouse Debating and Public Speaking Programme began the year with a promotion, from a “society” to a “cultural programme”, which it had been operating as for many years already. Boys who join the programme are either some of the best at what they do, or are learning an enormous amount and developing their skills, and all of them are committed and enthusiastically involved in what is an extra activity, above and beyond what they are already expected to do at school. I would like to begin this report by thanking them for their dedication and congratulating them on their individual and team achievements. This year the programme has enjoyed enormous popularity, once again. The sign-up sheets at the Cultural Fair in January were chock-a-block full, and I am pleased to report that the majority of boys who signed up at the start of the year remain members today. As a result, we were able to enter six teams in the Pietermaritzburg League again – two per division – and we had a qualified Grade 12 adjudicator in Daniel Kaabwe. Although our teams did not make it to the break rounds this year, a number of boys did exceptionally well on an individual basis, as is highlighted above. And the majority of those boys were beginners! We are working with some very exciting talent, and this bodes well for the 2024 season. Following their success in the league, five of our boys were selected for the Pietermaritzburg team to take part in the provincial tournament, held at St Henry’s Marist College again,

ANNUAL AWARDS Truda Cup: Luke Kaufmann Coyle Debating Prize: Daniel French

Most Improved Debater and Public Speaker: Seth Segal Most Promising Junior Speaker: Oliver Thompson REPRESENTATION REPRESENTED PIETERMARITZBURG AT THE KZNSDA PROVINCIAL DEBATING TOURNAMENT: Damian Watson, Seth Segal, Shail Rajkumar and

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