South African Open (chess)The South African Open is a chess tournament played in South Africa. It was first held in 1962.HistoryFirst held in 1962, the SA Open was held every two years until 1995, after which it has been held annually. It was not held in 1992 due to the unification of the various sports bodies after apartheid.Open winnersYearVenueWinnerScorePlayersBest South African player2025JohannesburgJames Dinham8.5/1147James Dinham2022Cape TownDaniel Cawdery9/1196Daniel Cawdery2019KimberleyJohannes Mabusela7½/969Johannes Mabusela2018BloemfonteinSahaj Grover10/11Daniel Cawdery2017DurbanSahaj Grover10/11125Watu Kobese2016Cape TownAleksa Striković9½/11548Watu Kobese2015Cape TownNigel Short9/11?Kenny Solomon2014BloemfonteinMerab Gagunashvili10/11?Johannes Mabusela2013Port ElizabethAbhijeet Gupta9/11?Watu Kobese2012Cape TownRodwell Makoto9/11326Johannes Mabusela2011JohannesburgGawain Jones9½/11388Nicholas van der Nat2010JohannesburgRobert Gwaze7½/9206Kgaugelo Mosetlhe2009Cape TownAmon Simutowe9½/11204Nicholas van der Nat2008CenturionWatu Kobese9½/11159Watu Kobese2007Cape TownKenny Solomon9½/11159Kenny Solomon2006Port ElizabethGawain Jones10½/11155Watu Kobese2005BloemfonteinKenny Solomon9½/11191Kenny Solomon2004Cape TownWatu Kobese10/11263Watu Kobese2003CenturionStanley Chumfwa10½/11173Kenny Solomon2002Port ElizabethRonnie van Tonder9/11181Ronnie van Tonder2001Cape TownMark Levitt9½?Mark Levitt2000AlbertonAmon Simutowe10½/1189Andre Nel1999Cape TownKenny Solomon?/11?Kenny Solomon1998PretoriaAmon Simutowe??Mark Rubery1997Cape TownGordon Meyer9½/11>300Gordon Meyer1996DurbanMark Levitt & Solly MaubaMark Levitt1995DurbanGavin Wall & Mark LevittMark Levitt1993DurbanGeorge Michelakis & Malcolm PeinGeorge Michelakis1990JohannesburgJames PlaskettShabier Bhawoodien1988Port ElizabethDavid GluckmanDavid Gluckman1986JohannesburgMark LevittMark Levitt1984DurbanMichael SteanMark Rubery1982JohannesburgDavid Sprenkle & Albert PonelisAlbert Ponelis1980Port ElizabethYair Kraidman & Charles de VilliersCharles de Villiers1978DurbanCraig PritchettPeter Abbott1976aurthurs seat hotel, sea point. cape townMiguel Najdorf and Michael Stean???1974Durban Albert Ponelis and Eddie Price9/11154Albert Ponelis and Eddie Price1972Port ElizabethBob Griffiths10/1142Bob Griffiths1970East LondonBrian DonnellyBrian Donnelly1968Cape TownKurt DreyerKurt Dreyer1966DurbanBob GriffithsBob Griffiths1964WildernessLothar Schmid11/11?Melvin Hope1962WildernessHarry Golombek & Alberic O'Kelly??JJ Leicher