Breaking new ground as one of the country’s most promising young talents, chess prodigy Caleb Levitan hopes his achievements will help raise interest in the sport in South Africa and motivate other young players to pursue their dreams.
Levitan and his twin brother Yehuda started playing chess at the age of six, after being taught by their father, and while Yehuda was successful, Caleb made waves at the international level.
After achieving a rating of more than 2,000 from the global chess governing body FIDE, Levitan has been awarded the title of Candidate Master, placing him among the international elite in one of the most popular and challenging strategic board games in the world – and he is not. still young.
Last year, the 12-year-old prospect won the national junior title in Tshwane, as well as the African youth title in his age group in Zambia, which saw him receive the provisional title of FIDE Master (just two levels below the prestigious Grandmaster rank. ). He also finished fourth at the 2022 World School Chess Championship in Panama.
Raise local ranks
His skills and recent results have taken him up the ranks, and he is currently ranked 25th in South Africa, despite his young age. He is also among the top 600 players in Africa in the open division.
Recognized for achievements beyond the realm of his own sport, Levitan received the Amayanga-Yanga Athlete of the Year accolade at the Gauteng Sports Awards last week, which recognizes young athletes who have shown exceptional performances in their respective codes.
And after being recognized by the wider sporting community, the King David Sandton Primary School pupil took the opportunity to promote his chosen sport, rejecting the idea that chess is not as competitive as other sporting disciplines.
“Finally I’m very happy that chess is respected and recognized as a sport. Not many people understand the physical and mental stamina required to play the game for four or five hours at a time,” said Levitan.
“The training and competition schedule matches that of a competitive athlete.”
Young experience
Despite getting the recognition last week, Levitan is performing at an impressive level ahead of the 2022 season.
In 2018, he tied for first place with his sister in the U-8 age group at the African Youth Championships in Kisumu, Kenya. And at a tournament in Spain three months later he broke South Africa’s record in world chess competition when he scored 7.5/11 at the World Cadet Championship. He was later recognized as South Africa’s Young Chess Player for this achievement.
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With Yehuda still making great strides alongside Caleb, his brother is the current national champion in the U-12 and U-16 divisions.
He also competed against several Grandmaster players from the United States, including Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So and Levon Aronian.
With the world at his feet, Caleb Levitan hopes to inspire other young players in South Africa through his achievements.
And he is grateful for the support he received from those around him in the early stages of his career, as he will continue to rise through the international ranks.
“I am proud to represent the sport,” he said, “and I am very grateful to my parents, coaches, school and chess federation for helping me get to this point.”