NMBCU Trials 4 2026 (U20-Open)
10 players participated in this 6-round tournament, held from 24 Apr 2026 to 25 Apr 2026 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2 federations represented. Top 10 Elo average was 1084, and top seed was Usemhle Mtshekexe (🇿🇦 RSA, 1654).
Mekhail Perring (🇿🇦 RSA, 1595) won with 4.0/6, ahead of Usemhle Mtshekexe (4.0) and Caleb Lippstreu (3.5). Perring won on tie-break after catching the field in the final round.
The biggest upset came in round 3: Zeenat Cerfonteyn (1421) beat Keaton Pienaar (1587), a +166-point gap.
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How it unfolded
Top 6 · 6 roundsTight race until R4; 2 players tied at 4.0/6, decided on Buchholz.
Mekhail Perring takes the sole lead (3.0/4).
2 players finish on 4.0/6. Perring takes the title on Buchholz Cut1 (17.0).
Mekhail Perring lost to Usemhle Mtshekexe (Black).
Key matchups · top 4
Head-to-head between the four finishers| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Mekhail Perring | * | 0 | ½ | 1 |
| 2Usemhle Mtshekexe | 1 | * | ½ | — |
| 3Caleb Lippstreu | ½ | ½ | * | — |
| 4Jacinto Kapp | 0 | — | — | * |
Grille américaine
| # | Player | Elo | Fed | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts | Bu C1 | Bu | SB | Perf | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perring, Mekhail | 1595 | RSA | +4N | =7B | =3N | +5B | −2N | +6N | 4.0 | 17.0 | 20.0 | 12.75 | 1663 | +10.8 |
| 2 | Mtshekexe, Usemhle | 1654 | RSA | +8B | F | =5N | +6N | +1B | =3N | 4.0 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 13.25 | 1703 | +10.4 |
| 3 | Lippstreu, Caleb | 1466 | FID | F | +9N | =1B | +7B | =5N | =2B | 3.5 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 9.50 | 1691 | +48.8 |
| 4 | Kapp, Jacinto | 1553 | RSA | −1B | −5N | +8B | +10N | =7B | +9B | 3.5 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 5.50 | 1304 | -17.8 |
| 5 | Gcwabe, Othandwayo | 1563 | RSA | +6N | +4B | =2B | −1N | =3B | −8N | 3.0 | 18.0 | 21.0 | 10.25 | 1608 | +6.2 |
| 6 | Cerfonteyn, Zeenat | 1421 | RSA | −5B | +8N | +7N | −2B | +9N | −1B | 3.0 | 17.0 | 18.0 | 7.00 | 1403 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Pienaar, Keaton | 1587 | RSA | +9B | =1N | −6B | −3N | =4N | +10B | 3.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 4.75 | 1314 | -27.2 |
| 8 | Mangcotywa, Lihle | 0 | RSA | −2N | −6B | −4N | +9B | +10N | +5B | 3.0 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 4.00 | 1354 | -46.8 |
| 9 | FIDE 534014349 | 0 | — | −7N | −3B | +10B | −8N | −6B | −4N | 1.0 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 0.00 | 702 | 0.0 |
| 10 | FIDE 534047840 | 0 | — | F | F | −9N | −4B | −8B | −7N | 0.0 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 0.00 | 763 | 0.0 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
- 1Lippstreu, CalebFID+48.83.5 pts · #4
- 2Perring, MekhailRSA+10.84.0 pts · #1
- 3Mtshekexe, UsemhleRSA+10.44.0 pts · #3
- 1Mangcotywa, LihleRSA-46.83.0 pts · #7
- 2Pienaar, KeatonRSA-27.23.0 pts · #6
- 3Kapp, JacintoRSA-17.83.5 pts · #8
- R3+166 Elo gap
- R4+121 Elo gap