Understanding chess men: An ethnographic study of chess on the Cape Flats
| dc.contributor.author | Tobias, Shaheed | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-18T09:19:23Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-18T09:19:23Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis examines the socialities of chess in Cape Town, South Africa. It explores how chess is played and experienced in different social contexts, including the Steinitz Chess Club in Bellville, Cape Town, local chess tournaments, and the University Nationals in Makhanda, in the Eastern Cape province. The thesis argues that chess is a social game that players use to build community, foster positive masculinity, and challenge social hierarchies. It finds that the chess club in Bellville is a space where people from different backgrounds can come together to play chess and socialise. The thesis also finds that local chess tournaments can be a source of tension and pressure, but they can also be a way to build friendships and compete at a high level. The University Nationals in Makhanda allow young chess players from all over South Africa to come together and compete. The thesis finds that these tournaments can be a way to challenge social hierarchies and promote diversity in the chess community. It also suggests that players can use chess to promote social justice and create a more equitable society. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10566/20737 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of the Western Cape | |
| dc.subject | Chess | |
| dc.subject | Cape Flats | |
| dc.subject | Masculinity | |
| dc.subject | Social hierarchies | |
| dc.subject | Social justice | |
| dc.title | Understanding chess men: An ethnographic study of chess on the Cape Flats | |
| dc.type | Thesis |