Nicholas van der Nat shocked the field by edging out IM Kenny Solomon and David Cawdery in the 2005 South African Closed Championship. Both Solomon and Cawdery (7½-2½) drew in their last round encounter leaving the door open for van der Nat to win the national crown with 8-2. He as well as Cawdery and Jacques Ophoff (also  on 7½-2½) win automatic berths on the 2006 Olympiad team. Neither George Michelakis nor Watu Kobese participated in this year's event.

2005 South African Closed (Chess South Africa website)

Posted by The Chess Drum: 13 April 2005