Celebration of Chess Excellence in South Africa
Date: 29 December 2022
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AWARDS CIRCULAR 2022
Introduction
The South African Chess Hub mission is to promote and develop chess in South Africa as a sport, recreational and educational activity by increasing participation in chess related activities thereby increasing opportunities for local chess players and coaches.
We feel that a major part of our mission is to recognise and celebrate chess excellence on all levels throughout South Africa. To achieve this mission we will be launching the annual South African Chess Hub Awards to be hosted online in December 2022 on Twitch, Facebook and YouTube.
How it will work
We will ask the chess community across South Africa to nominate deserving persons in the various award categories. These nominations will be reviewed by the Awards Committee and a short list of nominees published.
The Awards Committee will vote on each category and the winner will be determined by majority vote.
All shortlisted nominees will be acknowledged and receive a digital certificate of recognition. Winners will be announced at the online Awards Ceremony and will receive an award (i.e. digital certificates, trophy or medals).
Achievement and Special awards will be approved by the Awards Committee.
Activity and Rating Awards will be based on the Chess SA ratings database at 30 November 2022 and minimum activity requirements will apply.
Award categories
The following award categories will be celebrated (see below for guidance notes):
- Outstanding Administrator of the year
- Newcomer Arbiter of the year
- Outstanding Arbiter of the year
- Outstanding Chess Content Creators
- Outstanding Coach of the year
- Outstanding Tournament Organiser of the year
- Community chess project of the year
- Contribution to Disability Chess
- Contribution to Womens’ Chess
- Primary School Team of the year
- High School Team of the year
- University Team of the year
- Club Team of the year
- Outstanding Club of the year
- Outstanding Development Club of the year
- Outstanding Junior Boy and Girl (under 12)
- Outstanding Youth Boy and Girl (under 20)
- Outstanding Disabled Chess Player
- Outstanding Male and Female Player
- Lifetime Contribution Awards
Other Merit awards
- Most active region and province (based on most active players for the period 1 January to 30 November) *
- Most active players for the period 1 January to 30 November (over-the-board and online) *
- Highest rated players at 30 November (minimum of 30 games played) *:
- Male – u8, u10, u12, u14, u16, u18, u20 and Open
- Female – u8, u10, u12, u14, u16, u18, u20 and Open
- SA Chess Hub Best Online Blitz Player
- Achievement Awards (if applicable)
- Special awards (if applicable)
*Per the Chess South Africa Ratings Database. Rating awards based on OTB Main.
Invitation to serve on Awards Committee
We hereby invite all interested parties who wish to be considered to serve on the Awards Committee to submit their application via the following Google Form:
Link: https://forms.gle/HpzQM5jHTJx6nuWU9
Deadline for submission is 07 December 2022 at 21:00.
Committee members will require reliable internet connectivity to attend online meeting(s) and submit their votes.
Invitation to submit nominees
We hereby invite nominations for the 2022 South African Chess Hub Awards. Details on how to apply and guidance on particular awards may be found below. Individuals making nominations should read this guidance before submitting an entry.
Kindly submit your nominations via the following Google Form:
Link: https://forms.gle/w7J8sYw9LAz6KFpQ8
Please note that a detailed motivation will be required when submitting the nomination. This motivation must be comprehensive as the Awards Committee will not be able to research your nominee. We will require the contact information and a photo (if possible) of the nominee.
Deadline for submission is 07 December 2022 at 21:00.
Call for Sponsorship
We hereby invite any interested donors or sponsors willing to make a contribution towards this event to kindly email Paul Wilson at paul@chesshub.org.za or contact him on 083 461 8742.
We would love to give each winner a special trophy which will need to be couriered across South Africa. With your help we would like to make this the most prestigious chess awards in South Africa, with the dream to one day host an in-person gala event.
Donors’ and sponsors’ contributions will be acknowledged on our website, in marketing material and during the awards ceremony. These awards are a wonderful opportunity for sponsors to showcase their brand, products and services to the chess community and beyond. Please send us an email and let’s discuss.
SOUTH AFRICAN CHESS HUB AWARDS – AWARD CATEGORIES
The South African Chess Hub annual awards are a way to recognise significant contributions to the promotion and development of chess within South Africa. Nominees should demonstrate chess excellence in their area of expertise, delivered outstanding performances and achievements.
The motivation submitted should cover the awards qualifying period (1 December to 30 November) and should incorporate (but not limited to) aspects and criteria listed below.
- Outstanding Administrator of the year
The nominee will be an individual who has contributed immensely to the promotion and development of chess, demonstrating and displaying leadership, passion, willingness and dedication on the operations and development of chess in South Africa.
- Newcomer Arbiter of the year
The nominee will be a registered arbiter who has qualified as an arbiter during the qualifying period and demonstrated sound technical understanding, willingness to learn and showed an excellent work ethic at events.
- Outstanding Arbiter of the year
The nominee will be a registered arbiter who has demonstrated technical excellence, commitment to learning, efficient running of tournaments by managing his team of arbiters and supporting the Tournament Directors to deliver excellent events.
- Outstanding Chess Content Creator
The nominee will be a chess content creator(s) who has delivered quality and entertaining chess content promoting chess in South Africa via their chosen medium including streaming, educational videos, writing of chess articles or blogs, chess authors, etc.
- Outstanding Coach of the year
The nominee will be an individual who has guided their students (individuals and/or teams) to success in chess and in life by instilling in them a positive attitude, strong work ethic, sportsmanship, competitiveness and a love of chess. The nominee should lead by example and consistently demonstrates a dedication to lifelong learning.
- Outstanding Tournament Organiser of the year
The nominee will be an individual who has consistently delivered excellent tournaments in all aspects (online or over-the-board) thereby giving chess players opportunities to improve and develop their talents and promote chess in South Africa.
- Community chess project of the year
The nominee will be an individual, organisation, educational institute, region or provincial body that has made a contribution in promoting and developing social chess or using chess as a tool for social change and upliftment of communities in South Africa.
- Contribution to Disability Chess
The nominee will be an individual or organisation that has actively promoted chess to the disabled community, providing a welcoming and accessible environment for disabled players to learn and play chess and/or helping to coach and develop disabled players.
- Contribution to Womens’ Chess
The nominee will be an individual or organisation that has made outstanding contributions to develop, encourage and strengthen the participation of women and girls at all levels.
- Primary School Team of the year
The nominee will be a primary school whose teams have achieved outstanding results on a Regional, Provincial, National or International level.
- High School Team of the year
The nominee will be a high school whose teams have achieved outstanding results on a Regional, Provincial, National or International level.
- University Team of the year
The nominee will be a university team who has achieved outstanding results on a Regional, Provincial, National or International level.
- Club Team of the year
The nominee will be an affiliated club team who has achieved outstanding results on a Regional, Provincial, National or International level.
- Outstanding Club of the year
The nominee will be formerly formed and affiliated chess club that throughout the review period promotes chess in their community, providing a welcoming and supportive environment for new members and growing membership. The club should be active within its community by offering regular coaching initiatives for its members and should host over the board and online club events. Participation and achievement in regional, provincial and national events of the club and its members.
- Outstanding Development Club of the year
The nominee will be a club which serves disadvantaged communities and has an established and effective development programme that promotes chess in their communities and provides opportunities to and supports its members to participate in regional, provincial and national events.
- Outstanding Junior Boy and Girl (under 12)
The nominee will be an individual, born 2011 and later, who has during the review period produced outstanding performances on a Provincial, National or International arena.
- Outstanding Youth Boy and Girl (under 20)
The nominee will be an individual, born 2003 to 2010, who has during the review period produced outstanding performances on a Provincial, National or International arena.
- Outstanding Disabled Chess Player
The nominee will be a disabled individual who has during the review period produced outstanding performances on a Regional, Provincial, National or International arena.
- Outstanding Male and Female Player
The nominee will be an individual who has during the review period produced outstanding performances on a Provincial, National or International arena.
- Lifetime Contribution Awards
The nominee will be an individual who has made outstanding personal contributions to chess over time as a player, coach, educator, administrator, arbiter or organiser. The achievements for this category do not need to relate to a single year.
Enquiries
Should you have any queries or would like to get involved, please contact Paul Wilson by email paul@chesshub.org.za or 083 461 8742.