PE teen one move from top

Jesse February, 19, won the Africa Zone 4.3 Individual Chess Championships in Mauritius earlier this month, earning herself the title of women’s international master.

It was the first time Mauritius hosted the continental event, open to players from across Africa.

February will participate in the African Individual Chess championship in Uganda in July.

Should she win the competition she will become a women grandmaster title holder.

Last year, Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), also known as the World Chess Federation, introduced a new rule – awarding the grandmaster title to winners of the continental championship.

Speaking about her win in Mauritius, the Parsons Hill teen said: “It was my first zonal event, it was nerve-wracking because I attended alone.

“I did not have a coach but I knew I had the support of my family and my friends back home.

“In the middle [of the event], I was not so sure I would win because I was half a point behind [in second place].

“I was crossing my fingers hoping that I would be able to make it up because I knew my opponent would still have to face some tough competition.

“I didn’t expect it, but I am very excited to have won.”

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) accounting student also won the under-20 category at the South African Junior Closed Championship, in Bloemfontein earlier this year.

Chess South Africa vice-president Winston Dalpat said the organisation had selected four young women to represent South Africa at the Mauritius tournament.

He said: “We [Chess South Africa] are over the moon and excited about it. She is performing really, really well. When she goes to tournaments she wins it or receives a perfect score.

“We are obviously very excited by her performance and we were very confident that she would win the tournament.”