Celebrating young talent: Arav Jugree wins Best Junior Male Player at chess awards
Recognition
Arav Jugree won Best Junior Male Player of the Year.
Image: Supplied
THE KwaZulu-Natal Chess Association recently celebrated its inaugural chess awards in Richards Bay, honouring the accomplishments of its players and talent. Among the standout winners was 16-year-old Arav Jugree, who won the title of Best Junior Male Player of the Year.
Arav’s prowess on the chessboard did not go unnoticed, as he was also nominated for two other categories - Player of the Year and Male Player of the Year.
A Grade 10 pupil at Northwood School in Durban North, Arav’s chess journey began at age of four when he was introduced to the game by his father. Within a few years, he outgrew his dad's skills, transforming into a formidable competitor.
Throughout his chess career, he has earned both his KZN and South African colours and currently holds the titles of Arena FIDE Master (AFM) and Junior Master (JM), recently awarded by Chess South Africa.
When asked about his chess inspirations, Arav said world champion Magnus Carlsen was his hero.
“Magnus has dominated the chess world in the 21st century. His ability to stay focused and maintain composure under extreme pressure is something I truly admire,” he said.
He said the qualities of personal integrity and passion that Carlsen embodied, motivated him to pursue a mastery in chess with versatility.
Looking ahead, Arav has set his sights on attaining the title of Candidate Master. Beyond chess, he is considering a future in actuarial science or engineering upon completing matric, as he excels in mathematics and physics.
Arav has been an integral part of the KZN Chess Association, and a member of the KZN Chess Academy, for the last seven years. His outstanding award was grounded in significant achievements, including being placed second in South Africa at the Junior Closed competition and Mzansi Interprovincial, as well as first in the U16 division at the SA Open.
There were numerous other achievements.
Chess runs in the family, with Arav’s younger brother Abhay, who is just three years his junior, also emerging as a formidable player. Abhay was nominated for the same category as Arav but, as in all competitions, there could only be one winner.