2026 KZN Open Chess Championships

KwaZulu-Natal's flagship open tournament, held at the Yellowwood Park Civic Hall in Durban. The 2026 edition drew close to 300 players across four sections (A, B, C and D) — a record turnout — with Sections A and B FIDE-rated. Section A ended with Michael Simpson and Keith Khumalo tied on points, Simpson taking the title on direct-encounter tiebreak. The KZN Open has run annually since 1967 and has been FIDE-rated since the KZN Chess Association took over its organisation in 2017. Source: chess-results.com (tnr1404062); FIDE event 478078.