Sune’s Sponsorship Request

Ten-year-old Sune du Toit has been climbing the ranks of local
chess with quiet determination, but a meeting with US-based chess master
provided inspiration enough for Sune to go for broke, and her efforts have been
rewarded with her selection to represent SA at the World Youth Chess
Championships to be held in Vietnam,
during October 2008.

Owing to the high costs of international participation, which
generally have to be carried by the athlete, Sune’s parents are making a request
for financial assistance, which will be R20,000.00. Interested parties are
requested to contact Sune’s mother, who’s contact details follow below.

Read more about Sune, how she has been inspired by chess, and what
motivates her to live her best life.

Who is Sune du Toit?

My name is Sune du Toit and I am 10 years old. I am Afrikaans
speaking. I am a single child and my parents love me dearly and support me in
all my activities.

I was born in Western Cape and am
currently staying in Pretoria.
I am a scholar at Elarduspark primary School in Pretoria and in Grade 4.

School Activities:

I enjoy school with all the activities very much. I enjoy drama,
eisteddfod, public speaking and reading a lot because it learns me being
presentable, being able to handle myself in a crowd, being marketable and
having something someone admiring me for.

My Favourite Sport:

Netball is my favourite sport, and it keeps me fit and healthy

My Favourite Mindgame:

Chess is my favourite mindgame. Chess is a competitive game played
between two players. Today, chess is one of the worlds most popular games,
played by millions of people worldwide in clubs, online, in tournaments and
informally.

I love playing friendlies with my dad, he was my coach when I
start playing chess. I was 6 years old when he learned me the game of chess.

I have a deep passion for chess and works hard to promote my
beloved sport and to be the best I can. I am holding on to the key to being a
good chess player – hard word, practice every day, discipline and focusing.

The Value of Chess:

Chess stimulates the whole brain thinking, enhance emotional
development, bringing children together. Children become more confident and
learn to take responsibility for their actions. Chess empower children to
success and helping them to grow one step at a time, just like the pawn in
chess.

Chess plays a symbolic role in art and literature. I love reading
books about chess – Alice in wonderland (Lewis Caroll), Wizard Chess (Harry
Potter series), Checkmate – a Ballet (Arthur Bliss), Chess – musical (Tim
Rice).

At the Women’s Open Chess Championships I have met the lead actor,
lead singer, CITO from the pop group Wonderboom who played the part of Bobby
Fisher in "Chess the musical".

My Dream:

My dream is to be the best I can, to be happy in what I am doing and
to enjoy Chess as for the game it is. To accomplish that there is no stop in
growing in Chess. I want to be one of the best female chess players in the
world.

I want to wear the green and gold to join the group of players who
has been selected to represent SA at the World Youth Chess Championships.

Every young child love the opportunity to play for their country
and I AM ONE OF THEM!

I have been selected to represent SA at the World Youth Chess
Championships to be held in Vietnam
(Oct 2008). It is a honour to have been selected for this team.

Chess is not one of the major sport codes in South-Africa and
relies on individual businesses to financially assist our SA Champions to
compete at this level.

It would be unfortunate if these talented, hard-working Junior
Chess Champions were to be denied this opportunity due to a lack of finances. I
am appealing to you for financial support and assistance to be able to reach
for the stars, to be the best I can.

My biggest Moment in
Chess:

My selection to be part of the team of junior champions to
represent SA at the World Youth Championships to be held in Vietnam (Oct
2008).

I have met Jennifer Shahade in 2007 at the Women’s Open .

I participate in a simultaneous with Grandmaster Dimitri Reimitri Reinderman
and Chess Master Watu Kobese.

My favourite Chess
Player:

Jennifer Shahade – a two-time American Women Chess Champion,
promoting women chess worldwide

Susan and Judith Polgar – Judith is by far the strongest female
player in history. A Hungarian Chess Grandmaster, she wanted to become the true
World Champion of Chess.

My Coaches:

Anzel Solomons from Cape Town, and
Watu Kobese from Waterkloof Academy in Pretoria.

My Motto:

I am a girl in the Chess world, dominated by boys with lots of
intimidation. It is not always easy to play with a boy as opponent but I am
emotionally strong enough to play a strong and good game – win or loose.

I believe in myself and, know that God will protect me in the
World of Chess. Loose or Win … I will be back the next round.

Special Thoughts:

"Chess is about the mind, how you think, its not about what you
looks like or how you dress. The minds makes chess a level playing field,
you’re all equals here." – Richard Mason in Knights of the South
Bronx.

"Chess is always a battle, a battle of beautiful ideas. That is
what I loved about it, you don’t get a black eye, you legs don’t get busted.
You learn how to trust your mind. In life you get much further with your mind,
than your fist!" – David MacEnulty

Should
you require any information about sponsoring Sune du Toit to represent SA at the World Youth Chess Championships to
be held in Vietnam,
during October 2008, kindly contact her mother Engela du Toit [email protected], or
Emelia Elappen at the Chess South Africa website.