Mossel Bay chess prodigy, Raynier Claassen, sets his hopes on the global stage but needs help to make that big move.
Mossel Bay, South Africa (29 July 2025) – Meet Raynier Claassen, a name you will want to remember! This 14-year-old chess sensation from Mossel Bay is taking the world of the black and white board by storm. A Grade 9 learner at Point High School and the second eldest of four siblings, Raynier is proving that brilliance knows no age.
From humble beginnings at Diaz Primary, where he first learned to play chess in Grade 3, Raynier’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Fast forward a few years, and he is now the top-ranked player in the Western Cape and second in the country! Not bad for someone who still has homework and rugby practice on his schedule.
Raynier’s rise on the chessboard has been packed with various achievements. At the 2024 African Youth Championships, he clinched first place, earning him the title of elect FIDE Master. This is a prestigious international recognition that puts him on track to join the ranks of the world’s best. He now needs just 110 points to make that title official. Now add to that his Junior Master title earned at the SAJCCC, and you have a young man with a serious head for strategy.
Raynier is more than just a chess genius. He is an all-rounder, excelling academically and loving every moment of being on the athletics track and rugby field. He’s also a proud member of the Mossel Bay Chess Club and the only player from the Eden district selected to represent South Africa.
Now, next on his journey is the World Chess Championships in Colombia this August, and tournaments in Albania and Algeria are on the horizon, too! However, Raynier’s dreams are hanging in the balance due to a lack of funding.
If you are looking for a worthy cause to support, Raynier’s story is it. Let us help Raynier collect more accolades by getting him to the international stage where he belongs. You can support his BackaBuddy here.
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