Young South African Chess Player Rebecca Prepares for World Championships in Spain

Photo Credit: Becky Louise - Supplied

The nine-year-old is raising funds for flights, accommodation, entry fees and travel costs ahead of the World Championships in Spain.

George, South Africa (02 September 2026) – At just nine years old, Rebecca is already making some serious moves on the chessboard, and now she is preparing for the biggest international challenge of her young career.

After winning the Under-9 section of the 2026 South African Open Chess Championship in July, Rebecca has earned the opportunity to represent South Africa at the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships in Roquetas de Mar, Spain, from 13 to 21 October.

Her victory means she will travel to Spain as South Africa’s official representative in her age group and as the number-one seed. This is a remarkable achievement for a young player whose progress has been driven by countless hours of training, determination and a growing love for the game.

But this is not Rebecca’s first taste of international competition.

Last year, with the support of her community, she travelled to Greece to compete in the Chess Cadet Tournament. Since then, she has continued developing her game, putting in the work and building on every experience at the board. That dedication has now paid off in a big way.

Her success is also part of an exciting period for South African junior chess, with young players increasingly making their presence felt beyond our borders. Rebecca now has the chance to add her own chapter to that story when she lines up against some of the best young players from around the world.

While winning the South African Open has secured Rebecca’s place on the international stage, getting her there is proving to be the next big challenge.

Her family and supporters are urgently raising funds to cover international flights, tournament accommodation, the mandatory guardian accommodation costs, entry fees and travel visas.

There is also a firm registration deadline of 14 September, making the fundraising push particularly time-sensitive.

After everything she has already achieved, this is another opportunity for the young chess player to learn, compete and proudly represent South Africa on the world stage.

To help Rebecca raise funds, follow the link here.