“MiniChess” turns into big chess in Cote d’Ivoire!
Cote d’Ivoire is still basking in the glory of holding the successful Grand Chess Tour event held in early May where 10 of the world’s top players visited Abidjan for the Rapid and Blitz tournament. In less than a week, Paris will host a similar event, but it has to follow an event that captured the imagination chess players around the African continent. The event was made even more special with a sighting of Didier Drogba!
At the end of the tournament, Ivorian chess officials wasted no time to keep the momentum going and have had a couple of activities including the Senior Individual National Championship on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Pullman Hotel. Charles Lorng then traveled to Pretoria, South Africa to partake in a symposium on July 5th to launch the MiniChess franchise.
Symposium Attendees in Pretoria, South Africa
The launching of the MiniChess initiative was done with its founder Marisa van der Merwe and her staff orienting the directors in curriculum development and training methods for MiniChess students. The organization has establishments in six African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Madagascar, Lesotho and now Cote d’Ivoire. There are also MiniChess programs in Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
LESOTHO
RWANDA
KENYA
MADAGASCAR
As a franchise owner, Charles Lorng is going to take on the task of implementing the program in Cote d’Ivoire and has completed his second training session. It is with great hope that MiniChess will be a success in Cote d’Ivoire and help fuel a chess renaissance.
Perhaps a future site of the launch in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire?
Marisa van der Merwe, founder of MiniChess and Charles Lorng,
CEO of MiniChess franchise in Cote d’Ivoire
I run a free chess lesson for anybody wishing to have fun on Fridays from 3 to 4pm in the Umhlanga Rocks library.
From 1 November onwards I am hoping a school or library could use me in or near the Bryanston or Rivonia area.