At just seven years old, Clea Nel qualified to play for South Africa at the 2020 World School Individual Chess Championship. This 2nd grader started playing chess in Grade R and developed a love of the game and the challenge it presented.
Clea’s parents play chess, and they started to teach Clea’s brother, Aidan, when he turned six. He loved the game and is a Western Province player in his age group today. Clea, who had always been a bright little girl, wanted to learn too, but as she was only four, they felt she was too young to comprehend the intricacies of the game.
In spite of not being allowed to play, she would sit and watch, and soon she started to pick up the rules and offer her thought on the next best moves.
At school, she quickly showed her knowledge, talent, and passion for the game, and was selected to play for the U/8 Western Province team at the SA Junior Chess Championships.
By nature a sunny and friendly child with many friends, Clea is also competitive and a perfectionist. She tries hard at everything and encourages her friends to do the same, helping wherever she can. Her parents have instilled in her the knowledge that winning or losing are both fine, as long as you have given your best.
“If your children know they have your support and love, they will be prepared to face any challenges.”
Livna, Clea’s mother, says that as a working mother she makes sure that her children are learning to be independent. “If your children know they have your support and love, they will be prepared to face any challenges,” she says. “But while we give them the flexibility to make their own valid decisions, we also ensure that they know they have to take responsibility for them.”
Like many South African families, finances are tight and Clea’s parents are struggling to finance her trip. BackaBuddy has opened a fund to help Clea represent us all against the world’s best and win her well-deserved South African Chess Federation Colours.
Please consider contributing to this fund to give our little champ a chance to compete.
The 2020 World School Individual Chess Championship will be hosted in Panama City, Panama from 28 May 2020 – 7 June 2020.
Fees include International FIDE registration fees, tournament fees, accommodation, travel, and flights.
2 x Flights to Panama City (Clea and accompanying adult) R41 600
Taxi fare R4 000
10 Nights Accommodation and meals R22 400
Fide Registration fee R700
Tournament fee R3000
Chess SA fee R2500
Fundraising target at BackaBuddy
R 74 200.00
Please support Clea’s BackaBuddy campaign here:
Edited By: Patricia Becker Stapleton
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