Charlize van Zyl | |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Born | September 19, 1999 Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| Title | Woman International Master (2013) |
| Peak rating | 1940 (May 2024) |
Charlize van Zyl (born 19 September 1999) [1] is a South African chess player who holds the title of Woman International Master, which she earned in 2013 at the age of 13, becoming the youngest South African to do so. [2]
Van Zyl won the African Zonals at age 13, earning her WIM title. [3] She has represented South Africa at the Chess Olympiad in 2018 (finishing on 3.5/8 on board 5) [4] and 2022 (4/9 on board 2). [5]
She came second in the Women's section of the 2022 African Chess Championship, finishing half a point behind Shahenda Wafa, [6] and qualifying for the Women's Chess World Cup 2023, [7] where she was defeated by Nurgyul Salimova in the first round.
Van Zyl attended Collegiate Girls High School, [8] and studied a BA in media, communications and culture student at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. [3] [9]