In the last list of the top Chess players we published, we ranked the best Montenegrin Chess players. Now in this article, we’re ranking the best South African Chess players from South Africa from FIDE. All of the players in this list are master level players with an Elo ratings exceeding 2000 in all time controls. For more information on ratings, see the guide on how to get a FIDE rating.
10. Mohamed Ozayr Bhawooden
Full Name: Mohamed Ozayr Bhawooden
Title: FIDE Master
Born: November 04, 1994
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 9263
Rapid: 2070
Blitz: 2153
Classical: 2182
Profiles
Mohamed is a famous chess player from the Republic of South Africa with a FIDE master title. He has played 111 chess games, recording an overall result of Win: 41 (36.9%), Loss: 35 (31.5%), and Draw 35 (31.5%). In the games he played, he recorded a White result of Win: 20 (38.5%), Loss: 13 (25%), and Draw 19 (36.5%) in 52 games. On the other hand, he recorded a black result of Win: 21 (35.6%), Loss: 22 (37.3%), and a Draw: 16 (27.1%) in 59 games. On October 01, 2021, he recorded his highest rating after achieving a peak rating of 2168.
9. Gordon Meyer
Full Name: Gordon Meyer
Title: None
Born: August 04, 1968
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 8853
Rapid: 2181
Blitz: 2176
Classical: 2190
Profiles
Gordon Meyer is a South African chess player who has played 88 chess games in his history. In these games, he recorded an overall result of Win: 24 (27.3%), Loss 41 (46.6%) and Draw 23 (26.1%). In the games, he recorded a white result of win: 13 (28.9%), Loss 19 (42.2%), and Draw 13 (28.9%) in 45 matches. On the other hand, he recorded a black result of Win 11 (25.6%), Loss 22 (51.2%), and Draw 10 (23.3%) in 43 games.
8. Johannes Manyedi Mabusela
Full Name: Johannes Manyedi Mabusela
Title: International Master
Born: June 04, 1984
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 8136
Rapid: 2297
Blitz: 2204
Classical: 2203
Profiles
Johannes Manyedi Mabusela is a famous chess player from the Republic of South Africa. He currently holds an international master’s title awarded to him by FIDE. In 2002, Johannes won the African chess championship in the Junior category. In 2014, he became the best chess in his country after winning the South African open tournament. He later defended his win in 2019 when he became the winner of the tournament for the second time. In addition, Johannes also played in the Chess Olympiad. He was part of his national chess team representing his country in 2008, 2010, 2012, and the 2018 edition of the tournament.
7. Kalvin John Klaasen
Full Name: Kalvin John Klaasen
Title: FIDE master
Born: February 01, 1987
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 7650
Rapid: 2245
Blitz: 2270
Classical: 2212
Profiles
Kalvin John Klaasen, aged thirty-five, is a chess player from the Republic of South Africa with a FIDE master title in his chess career. He teamed up with Johannes Mabusela and won the South African chess championships in 2017. In addition, he also represented in the Chess Olympiad games in the 2016 and 2018 editions of the tournament.
6. Banele Mhango
Full Name: Banele Mhango
Title: FIDE Master
Born: September 26, 2003
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 6505
Rapid: 2035
Blitz: Not Rated
Classical: 2238
Profiles
Banele Mhango is a dedicated chess player from the Republic of South Africa. He first won a candidate master’s in his chess career in 2018. Two years later, Mhango qualified for a FIDE master title after producing an impressive result in his chess games. He was awarded the title in 2020 by the FIDE organization making him one of the top-rated chess players in his Country.
5. Roland Bezuidenhout
Full Name: Roland Bezuidenhout
Title: FIDE Master
Born: August 31, 1997
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 5313
Rapid: Not Rated
Blitz: Not Rated
Classical: 2262
Profiles
Roland Bezuidenhout is a South African chess player with a great passion for his chess career. In 2012, Roland won a candidate master, the first title he was awarded in his chess history. However, in 2018, he earned his FIDE master title from FIDE after showing impressive results in his chess games, making him one of the top-rated chess players in his Country.
4. Daniel Barrish
Full Name: Daniel Barrish
Title: FIDE Master
Born: January 01, 2000
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 4882
Rapid: 2183
Blitz: 2095
Classical: 2283
Profiles
Daniel Barrish is a high profiled chess player from South Africa who earned a FIDE master title in 2013. In 2019, he became the champion of his country’s national chess championships. This was after he scored 7.5/11, which made him defeat Kenny Solomon, a grandmaster holder, by half a point in the tournament. He also qualified and played in the 2021 chess world cup and was eliminated in the first round by Aryan Tari.
3. Watu Kobese
Full Name: Watu Kobese
Title: International Master
Born: March 26, 1973
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 3979
Rapid: 2340
Blitz: 2296
Classical: 2311
Profiles
Watu Kobese is a high profiled chess player from South Africa. He is a three times winner of the South African championships in 1998, 2003 and 2011. He also won the South African Open tournament in 2004 and 2008. In addition, Watu has also represented his country in the Chess Olympiad games from 1992 to 2018.
2. Kenneth Terence Solomon
Full Name: Kenneth Terence Solomon
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 01, 1979
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 2880
Rapid: 2408
Blitz: 2408
Classical: 2355
Profiles
Kenneth Solomon is a top-rated South African chess player with a grandmaster title he earned from FIDE in 2014 after winning the African championships. He was the winner of the South African chess championships in 2003, making him the top-ranked chess player in his country. He also played in the South African Open tournament in 199, 2005, and 2007. He was awarded his international master’s title in 200.
1. Daniel Cawdery
Full Name: Daniel Cawdery
Title: International Master
Birth: July 20, 1982
Federation: South Africa
Ratings
World ranking: 1622
Rapid: 2357
Blitz: 2325
Classical: 2417
Profiles
Daniel Cawdery is the top-rated chess player in south Africa who holds an international master title he earned from FIDE in 2014. He is also a two times winner of the South African championships in 2015 and 2022. In addition, he has also represented his country in the Chess Olympiad games in 1998, 2008, 2016, 2012, 2006, and 2018. He also competed in the chess world cup 2017 and was eliminated in the first round by Levon Aronia, who later became the tournament winner.
That concludes the list of the best South African Chess players. If you like list posts like this, you may also be interested in seeing the ten best Belgian Chess players or the best Bangladeshi Chess players.
