2025 Mzansi Individual Championships (U18 Open)

Open SwissStandard

82 players participated in this 6-round tournament, held from 17 Dec 2025 to 20 Dec 2025 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Top 10 Elo average was 1755, and top seed was Onako Nkuzo (🇿🇦 RSA, 1854).

Lebogang Difotso (🇿🇦 RSA, 1758) won with 5.0/6, ahead of Ishmael Mikaeel Allie (5.0) and Mark Maroba (5.0). Difotso shared the lead from round 4, winning on tie-break.

The biggest upset came in round 6: Shaylen Marimuthu (1496) beat Onako Nkuzo (1854), a +358-point gap.

Location

🇿🇦Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Dates

17 Dec 2025 → 20 Dec 2025

Time control

Standard: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1

System

Swiss · 6 rounds

Top seed

🇿🇦Onako Nkuzo1854

Avg top 10

1,755

Participants

Federations · 1 represented

🇿🇦South Africa×79

Top 3

🥇
Lebogang Difotso
🇿🇦RSA·1758
5.0pts·1894perf+37.2
🥈
Ishmael Mikaeel Allie
🇿🇦RSA·1771
5.0pts·1926perf+42.4
🥉
Mark Maroba
🇿🇦RSA·1687
5.0pts·1836perf+35.2

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 6 rounds

Tight race until R6; 3 players tied at 5.0/6, decided on Buchholz. Title race narrowed from 9 co-leaders at R4 to 3 at the finish.

Co-leaders

Allie5Difotso5Maroba5Jugree4.5Elvin4.5Rossouw4.5

R6 · TIEBREAK CLUSTER

3 players finish on 5.0/6. Difotso takes the title on Buchholz Cut1 (20.5).

R6 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND

Ishmael Mikaeel Allie drew with Lebogang Difotso (White).

R2–R5 · WIN STREAK

Lebogang Difotso won 4 in a row (R2–R5).

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1Ishmael Mikaeel Allie	*	½	—	—
2Lebogang Difotso	½	*	—	—
3Mark Maroba	—	—	*	½
4Arav Jugree	—	—	½	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Difotso, Lebogang	1758	RSA	=51B	+35N	+18B	+13N	+5B	=2N	5.0	20.5	23.0	19.25	1894	+37.2
2	Allie, Ishmael Mikaeel	1771	RSA	+56N	+43B	=14N	+15B	+11N	=1B	5.0	20.0	22.5	18.00	1926	+42.4
3	Maroba, Mark	1687	RSA	+44B	+40N	=13B	+33N	+7B	=6N	5.0	19.0	22.0	17.75	1836	+35.2
4	CHIPUNZA, James	1812	RSA	=35B	+67N	+21B	+8N	=6B	=10N	4.5	20.5	22.5	16.50	1773	-8.0
5	Elvin, David	1621	RSA	+69B	+17N	+24N	=11B	−1N	+12B	4.5	20.5	22.5	15.50	1816	+58.8
6	Jugree, Arav	1641	RSA	+20N	=46B	+47N	+23B	=4N	=3B	4.5	19.5	22.0	16.00	1820	+54.8
7	Rossouw, Johrne	1559	RSA	+59N	+34N	=8B	+25B	−3N	+30B	4.5	19.5	22.0	14.75	1799	+64.8
8	Booysen, Jait	1678	RSA	+19B	+70N	=7N	−4B	+50N	+27B	4.5	19.0	21.0	14.25	1760	+22.0
9	Mittermaier, Gunther	1483	RSA	+80N	=15B	−25N	+61B	+23N	+22B	4.5	16.5	17.0	11.50	1791	+81.2
10	Seleko, Onalenna	1645	RSA	F	+64B	+19N	+48B	+22N	=4B	4.5	16.5	16.5	14.25	1981	+59.6
11	Jaffray, Joseph	1700	RSA	+82N	+27B	+12N	=5N	−2B	=17N	4.0	21.0	21.0	11.75	1706	+2.4
12	Jones, Edward	1634	RSA	+53B	+16N	−11B	+62N	+24B	−5N	4.0	18.5	20.5	12.00	1719	+28.0
13	Lau, Callum	1606	RSA	+64N	+63B	=3N	−1B	=25N	+37B	4.0	18.5	20.5	11.25	1638	+7.2
14	Mwelwa, Palo	1657	RSA	+62B	+73N	=2B	=41N	=17B	=18N	4.0	18.0	19.5	11.50	1678	+6.4
15	Rosenberg, Wagheed	1670	RSA	+68B	=9N	+76B	−2N	=26B	+35N	4.0	18.0	19.5	10.50	1644	-5.2
16	Graham, Riyandre	1747	RSA	+36N	−12B	=20N	+47B	=31N	+33B	4.0	17.5	20.0	12.25	1589	-32.8
17	Solomon, Izaiah	1546	RSA	+66N	−5B	+63N	+37B	=14N	=11B	4.0	17.5	19.5	11.00	1604	+12.0
18	Pearson, Dane Kevin	1573	RSA	+74N	=22B	−1N	+54B	+52N	=14B	4.0	17.5	19.0	10.25	1709	+29.2
19	Steyn, Tjaart	1512	RSA	−8N	+72B	−10B	+82N	+34B	+41N	4.0	17.0	17.0	8.00	1649	+29.6
20	Marimuthu, Shaylen	1496	RSA	−6B	+78N	=16B	=34N	+66B	+38N	4.0	16.5	17.5	9.50	1715	+43.2
21	Powell, Dominic	1577	RSA	+65N	=47B	−4N	+39B	=46N	+36B	4.0	15.5	17.5	10.50	1668	+24.0
22	Pearson, Ethan	1699	RSA	+60B	=18N	+49B	+28N	−10B	−9N	3.5	19.0	21.5	10.50	1606	-24.0
23	Mogodi, Morongwa	1660	RSA	+29B	+39N	=33B	−6N	−9B	+49N	3.5	18.5	21.0	10.50	1432	-36.4
24	Changara, Adrian Tafara	1609	RSA	+37N	+38N	−5B	+36B	−12N	=29B	3.5	18.0	21.0	10.75	1580	-5.2
25	Byliefeldt, Leroux	1676	RSA	=49B	+51N	+9B	−7N	=13B	=46N	3.5	18.0	20.5	11.50	1620	-14.0
26	Masango, Sobangane	1562	RSA	−38B	+32N	+67B	=52B	=15N	=28N	3.5	16.5	18.5	10.50	1675	+20.4
27	Lewaks, Shaundre	1589	RSA	+78B	−11N	+53B	+66N	=28B	−8N	3.5	16.5	17.5	7.25	1557	-8.4
28	Mqweba, Elam	1801	RSA	=48N	+61B	+46N	−22B	=27N	=26B	3.5	15.5	17.5	9.25	1629	-48.0
29	Sebake, Koketso	0	RSA	−23N	−71B	+80N	+58B	+40B	=24N	3.5	14.5	15.0	7.75	1624	0.0
30	Marais, Nathan	1598	RSA	=57B	−76N	+81B	+44N	+42B	−7N	3.5	14.5	15.0	7.75	1562	-7.6
31	Bambela, Onako	1642	RSA	=76B	−49N	+73B	+51N	=16B	=32N	3.5	14.0	15.5	8.50	1719	+12.4
32	Dimba, Thabiso	0	RSA	F	−26B	+72N	+70B	+48N	=31B	3.5	13.5	13.5	8.25	1606	0.0
33	Horn, Evan	0	RSA	+?B	+42N	=23N	−3B	=41B	−16N	3.0	18.5	18.5	6.25	1678	+22.4
34	Mbewe, Tatenda	1617	RSA	+50N	−7B	=39N	=20B	−19N	+68B	3.0	18.0	20.0	8.00	1336	-59.6
35	Dubbeld, Benjamin	1578	RSA	=4N	−1B	=55N	+63B	+62N	−15B	3.0	18.0	20.0	7.50	1598	+4.4
36	Rossouw, Liam	0	RSA	−16B	+79N	+38B	−24N	+53B	−21N	3.0	17.0	18.0	6.50	1565	0.0
37	Van Der Merwe, Devan	0	RSA	−24B	+?N	+40B	−17N	+71B	−13N	3.0	16.5	16.5	5.00	1608	-9.2
38	Nkuzo, Onako	1854	RSA	+26N	−24B	−36N	+64B	+69N	−20B	3.0	16.0	18.0	7.50	1539	-58.0
39	Swart, Ruan	1549	RSA	+52N	−23B	=34B	−21N	+73B	=42N	3.0	16.0	17.5	7.00	1578	+7.6
40	Scheepers, Storm	1623	RSA	+75N	−3B	−37N	+55B	−29N	+62B	3.0	16.0	17.5	6.00	1659	+6.0
41	Jonkers, Tristan	1657	RSA	=61N	=48B	+68N	=14B	=33N	−19B	3.0	15.5	17.5	7.75	1471	-41.6
42	Mtshekexe, Usemhle	1675	RSA	+54N	−33B	=50N	+65B	−30N	=39B	3.0	14.5	16.5	7.25	1554	-19.6
43	Letupu, Lemogang	1580	RSA	+55N	−2N	=54B	−50B	=68N	+65B	3.0	14.5	16.5	6.75	1699	+19.2
44	Danglashe, Inga	1550	RSA	−3N	=75B	+74N	−30B	=61N	+78B	3.0	13.5	14.5	4.25	1323	-32.0
45	Ngudle, Mandisi	1634	RSA	−63N	=55B	−61N	+80B	=65N	+50B	3.0	11.0	11.5	5.25	1279	-74.0
46	Mackinna, Cashlin	1521	RSA	F	=6N	−28B	+49N	=21B	=25B	2.5	18.0	19.0	8.50	1587	+11.2
47	Magwentshu, Bala	1585	RSA	+77B	=21N	−6B	−16N	+60B	−54N	2.5	17.5	19.0	6.00	1537	-11.2
48	Cressey, Ryelee Jordan	1557	RSA	=28B	=41N	+82B	−10N	−32B	=59N	2.5	17.0	17.0	4.50	1576	+2.4
49	Shaku, Gift	0	RSA	=25N	+31B	−22N	−46B	+74N	−23B	2.5	16.5	18.0	6.75	1490	0.0
50	Bukula, Sivuyisile	0	RSA	−34B	+77N	=42B	+43N	−8B	−45N	2.5	16.5	18.0	6.00	1487	0.0
51	Amachukwu, Joseph	1571	RSA	=1N	−25B	+75N	−31B	−54N	+63B	2.5	16.5	18.0	6.00	1540	-8.0
52	Groener, Gladwin	1724	RSA	−39B	+57N	+69B	=26N	−18B	F	2.5	15.5	17.5	6.25	1456	-57.2
53	Fourie, Neelon	1400	RSA	−12N	+56B	−27N	+75B	−36N	=58B	2.5	15.5	17.0	5.25	1510	+20.4
54	Voigt, Daniel	0	RSA	−42B	F	=43N	−18N	+51B	+47B	2.5	15.0	15.0	6.50	1596	0.0
55	Boggenpoel, Cole	1435	RSA	−43B	=45N	=35B	−40N	=77N	+74B	2.5	13.5	15.0	5.25	1411	-4.0
56	Letsoeisa, Modimoonthatile	1558	RSA	−2B	−53N	+79B	=73N	+67B	F	2.5	13.5	14.5	3.75	786	-37.6
57	Seaka, Kabelo	0	RSA	=30N	−52B	−65N	=59B	=64N	+79B	2.5	12.5	13.5	5.00	1339	0.0
58	Jiki, Sandiso	1606	RSA	−67B	−62N	+60B	−29N	+79B	=53N	2.5	12.5	13.5	4.75	1471	-21.2
59	Sifunda, Aluta	0	RSA	−7B	−69N	=?B	=57N	+81N	=48B	2.5	12.0	12.0	3.00	1369	0.0
60	Mayo, Esinaye	1532	RSA	−22N	=74B	−58N	+81B	−47N	+75B	2.5	11.5	12.0	2.75	829	-44.4
61	Njenjesi, Lukhanyiso	1506	RSA	=41B	−28N	+45B	−9N	=44B	−71N	2.0	17.0	19.0	6.00	1500	-3.6
62	Van Der Walt, Tjaart	1490	RSA	−14N	+58B	+71N	−12B	−35B	−40N	2.0	16.5	18.5	4.50	1496	+4.4
63	Goncalves, Adriano	1411	RSA	+45B	−13N	−17B	−35N	+82B	−51N	2.0	16.5	16.5	3.00	1347	-18.8
64	Van Biljon, Sarel	0	RSA	−13B	−10N	+78B	−38N	=57B	=67N	2.0	16.0	17.0	3.25	901	0.0
65	Badenhorst, Junaid	1518	RSA	−21B	=81N	+57B	−42N	=45B	−43N	2.0	15.5	16.0	4.25	1294	-38.8
66	Jele, Philokuhle	0	RSA	−17B	F	+70N	−27B	−20N	+69B	2.0	15.5	15.5	4.00	1469	0.0
67	Van Der Walt, Stefan	0	RSA	+58N	−4B	−26N	=68B	−56N	=64B	2.0	15.0	17.0	4.50	1441	0.0
68	Fouche, Heinrich	0	RSA	−15N	+80B	−41B	=67N	=43B	−34N	2.0	15.0	15.5	3.00	1309	-28.8
69	Sera, Galaletsang	1492	RSA	−5N	+59B	−52N	+77B	−38B	−66N	2.0	14.5	16.0	4.00	935	-25.2
70	Berry, Ryan	1584	RSA	+72N	−8B	−66B	−32N	−78N	+82B	2.0	13.0	13.0	2.00	877	-14.8
71	Schultz, Jade	1627	RSA	−73B	+29N	−62B	F	−37N	+61B	2.0	12.0	13.5	5.50	1494	-14.0
72	FIDE 534031871	0	—	−70B	−19N	−32B	−79N	+80N	+81B	2.0	11.0	11.5	1.00	747	0.0
73	Tolmay, Llewellyn	0	RSA	+71N	−14B	−31N	=56B	−39N	−77B	1.5	15.0	16.5	3.25	1457	0.0
74	Jooste, Mathew	0	RSA	−18B	=60N	−44B	+?N	−49B	−55N	1.5	14.5	14.5	1.25	1396	0.0
75	Mvatyana, Linathi	0	RSA	−40B	=44N	−51B	−53N	+?B	−60N	1.5	13.5	13.5	1.50	1359	0.0
76	Schoeman, Devan	1467	RSA	=31N	+30B	−15N	F	F	F	1.5	13.0	13.0	5.25	1636	+26.8
77	Radebe, Andile	0	RSA	−47N	−50B	F	−69N	=55B	+73N	1.5	11.0	11.0	2.75	1230	0.0
78	Nxumalo, Tawanda	0	RSA	−27N	−20B	−64N	F	+70B	−44N	1.0	14.5	14.5	2.00	1361	0.0
79	FIDE 534003649	0	—	F	−36B	−56N	+72B	−58N	−57N	1.0	13.0	15.0	2.00	782	0.0
80	Viviers, Hanre	0	RSA	−9B	−68N	−29B	−45N	−72B	=?N	0.5	15.0	15.0	0.00	1312	0.0
81	Thipe, Tiro	0	RSA	F	=65B	−30N	−60N	−59B	−72N	0.5	12.5	12.5	1.00	1275	0.0
82	FIDE 534003860	0	—	−11B	F	−48N	−19B	−63N	−70N	0.0	14.5	14.5	0.00	756	0.0

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Mittermaier, GuntherRSA
+81.2
4.5 pts · #10
2Rossouw, JohrneRSA
+64.8
4.5 pts · #7
3Seleko, OnalennaRSA
+59.6
4.5 pts · #12

Top rating losers

1Ngudle, MandisiRSA
-74.0
3.0 pts · #58
2Mbewe, TatendaRSA
-59.6
3.0 pts · #65
3Nkuzo, OnakoRSA
-58.0
3.0 pts · #36

Biggest upsets

R6+358 Elo gap
Marimuthu, Shaylen1496 beat Nkuzo, Onako1854
R2+245 Elo gap
Changara, Adrian Tafara1609 beat Nkuzo, Onako1854
R1+223 Elo gap
Goncalves, Adriano1411 beat Ngudle, Mandisi1634