Charlize van Zyl

Charlize van Zyl (born 19 September 1999) 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.

Chess career
Van Zyl won the African Zonals at age 13, earning her WIM title. She has represented South Africa at the Chess Olympiad in 2018 (finishing on 3.5/8 on board 5) and 2022 (4/9 on board 2).

She came second in the Women's section of the 2022 African Chess Championship, finishing half a point behind Shahenda Wafa, and qualifying for the Women's Chess World Cup 2023, where she was defeated by Nurgyul Salimova in the first round.

Education
Van Zyl attended Collegiate Girls High School, and studied a BA in media, communications and culture student at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.