The first South African Chess Championship was organised in 1892 by the Cape Town Chess Club. Nowadays the Championship is organised by Chess South Africa (CHESSA), the governing body of chess

Chess

Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...

 in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. The tournament is normally held every two years. It is restricted to chess players resident in South Africa (although exceptions have been made on occasion) and participation is by invitation only.

CHESSA was formed in 1992, after unification talks between various chess bodies that commenced the previous year. The 1995 event, the first organised by CHESSA, included titled players from Angola and Zimbabwe and was run on the Swiss system. Since that date, the tournament has been held on a round-robin basis. The winner of the tournament holds the title of South African Closed Chess Champion until the next tournament is held.

Historically, the tournament was usually held on a round-robin or double round-robin basis. In case of a tie for first place, a playoff match was usually conducted. In the early days, the title holder could also be challenged to a title match, and these matches are tabled below.

Winners of the national championship

#	Year	City	Winner
1	1892	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Arthur Rivett  Edward Roberts
2	1897	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Edward Roberts
3	1899	Durban Durban Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...	Abraham Michael
4	1903	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	Francis Joseph Lee Francis Joseph Lee Francis Joseph Lee was an English chess master.-Chess career:Lee played in a number of matches, and British and international chess tournaments, between 1883 and 1907...
5	1906	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Bruno Edgar Siegheim Bruno Edgar Siegheim Bruno Edgar Siegheim was a German–South African chess master.He took 3rd, behind Julius Finn and Hermann Keidanski, at New York 1903...
6	1910	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Harry Duhan
7	1912	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	Bruno Edgar Siegheim Bruno Edgar Siegheim Bruno Edgar Siegheim was a German–South African chess master.He took 3rd, behind Julius Finn and Hermann Keidanski, at New York 1903...
8	1920	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	A.J.A. Cameron  Alexander Chavkin
9	1924	Durban Durban Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...	Alexander Chavkin
10	1926	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	Max Blieden
11	1928	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Max Blieden
12	1935	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	John C. Archer jr
13	1937	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Kurt Dreyer Kurt Dreyer Kurt Dreyer was a German–South African chess master.Dreyer emigrated from Germany because of Nazi policy...
14	1939	Durban Durban Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...
15	1946	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...   John M. Holford John M. Holford John Morley Holford CB, OBE was a medical officer in the Royal Navy.- Life :John Morley Holford was born at Ettingshall, Staffordshire, the son of the reverend William James Holford and Amy Finnemore Lello. He was educated at Kingswood School, Bath, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he studied...
16	1947	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...   Kurt Dreyer Kurt Dreyer Kurt Dreyer was a German–South African chess master.Dreyer emigrated from Germany because of Nazi policy...
17	1949	Durban Durban Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...
18	1951	East London	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...
19	1953	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	John E. Eriksen
20	1955	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...
21	1957	Durban Durban Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...
22	1959	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld Wolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958... Kenneth Kirby
23	1961	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Woolf Gerber
24	1963	Pretoria Pretoria Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...	Kenneth Kirby Kees van der Meyden
25	1965	Salisbury Salisbury Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...	Piet Kroon
26	1967	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	David Friedgood David Friedgood David Friedgood is a South African–British chess master.He won South African Chess Championship in 1967, 1971 and 1973. He shared 7th at Caorle 1972 ....
27	1969	Pretoria Pretoria Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...	Piet Kroon
28	1971	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	David Friedgood David Friedgood David Friedgood is a South African–British chess master.He won South African Chess Championship in 1967, 1971 and 1973. He shared 7th at Caorle 1972 ....
29	1973	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	David Friedgood David Friedgood David Friedgood is a South African–British chess master.He won South African Chess Championship in 1967, 1971 and 1973. He shared 7th at Caorle 1972 ....
30	1975	East London	Piet Kroon Charles de Villiers
31	1977	Pretoria Pretoria Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...	David A. Walker Charles de Villiers
32	1979	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	Frank Korostenski
33	1981	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Charles de Villiers
34	1983	Pretoria Pretoria Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...	Donald Macfarlane
35	1985	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...	Clyde Wolpe Charles de Villiers
36	1987	Pretoria Pretoria Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...	Charles de Villiers
37	1989	Secunda	Charles de Villiers
38	1995	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	David Gluckman
39	1998	Bruma Lake	Mark Rubery  Watu Kobese
40	2000	Port Elizabeth	Nicholas van der Nat Nicholas van der Nat Nicholas van der Nat was born on the 1 October 1979 in Johannesburg.He has the titles of FIDE Master and FIDE Trainer.He has won the South African Closed Chess Championships on three occasions, namely 2000, 2005, and 2009....
41	2003	Kempton Park Kempton Park, Gauteng Kempton Park is a city on the East Rand in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Formerly an independent municipality in the Transvaal, Kempton Park no longer has its own municipal government, and has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since 2000...	Watu Kobese  Kenneth Solomon
42	2005	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Nicholas van der Nat Nicholas van der Nat Nicholas van der Nat was born on the 1 October 1979 in Johannesburg.He has the titles of FIDE Master and FIDE Trainer.He has won the South African Closed Chess Championships on three occasions, namely 2000, 2005, and 2009....
43	2007	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Henry Robert Steel
44	2009	Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...	Nicholas van der Nat Nicholas van der Nat Nicholas van der Nat was born on the 1 October 1979 in Johannesburg.He has the titles of FIDE Master and FIDE Trainer.He has won the South African Closed Chess Championships on three occasions, namely 2000, 2005, and 2009....

Winners of the South African Title

• 1897 Edward Roberts
  Edward Roberts
  -External links:**...
  
   (defeated Arthur Cameron in challenge)
• 1898 Edward Roberts
  Edward Roberts
  -External links:**...
  
   (defeated P.G. Van Breda in challenge)
• 1910 Max Blieden (defeated Bruno Edgar Siegheim
  Bruno Edgar Siegheim
  Bruno Edgar Siegheim was a German–South African chess master.He took 3rd, behind Julius Finn and Hermann Keidanski, at New York 1903...
  
   in challenge)
• 1911 Bruno Edgar Siegheim
  Bruno Edgar Siegheim
  Bruno Edgar Siegheim was a German–South African chess master.He took 3rd, behind Julius Finn and Hermann Keidanski, at New York 1903...
  
   (defeated Harry Duhan in challenge)
• 1912 Bruno Edgar Siegheim
  Bruno Edgar Siegheim
  Bruno Edgar Siegheim was a German–South African chess master.He took 3rd, behind Julius Finn and Hermann Keidanski, at New York 1903...
  
   (defeated Henk Meihuizen in challenge)

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