Mabvuku High chess team wins

Teams like Prince Edward, Mufakose 2 High school ,Zengeza 1, Oriel boys , Marondera and St. Alberts took part in this section. Mabvuku won 4 nil against Marondera high school in round one,in round two Mabvuku got an acid test against Oriel Boys high school when they drew their game 2-2. Roy Mwadzura defeated Phillip Jekera on board one while Graffi Bester of Oriel lost to Munyaradzi Thom on board two, Solomon Chimuzura lost to Leeroy Mutukwa while Alex Guzani got the better of Munanairi on board 4 to slavage a draw against the much fencied team which nearly ran away with the title had they beaten Mabvuku.

In round three Mabvuku played against their arch rivarls Mufakose 2 high school in a pulsating game of the day. Farai Hamandishe of Mufakose 2 got the better of Jekera in their game which was a rook ending and he was a pawn up. On board two Munyaradzi Thom won his game in a very interesting fashion to leave the score at 1 all, then Solomon Chimuzura had to win his game to lead with 2-1 of which Mufakose needed a full point to salvage the game. Alex Guzani salvaged a draw which led to the much needed victory by the team. Mabvuku eventually won 2,5-1,5 in a pulsating encounter which produced fire on the board. In the final round Mabvuku High school team got the better of Prince Edward 3-1 Greenwell Chimanya lost his game against Phillip Jekera, while the same was for board two who delayed coming for the game, board three Luberto lost to Solomon while Alex Guzani lost his final game.

Eventually Mufakose 2 High school team came second with one loss to Mabvuku. In third place was the youthful side of Zengeza 1 High school which was led by Kudakwashe Zimbowa on board one for the team. The team beat Oiel Boys in the fourth and final round 2,5-1,5 to finish with 6 points rather they were second but third on butcholtz. Farai Hamandishe was the best player on board one, while Munyaradzi Thom and Solomon Chimuzura of Mabvuku were the best players on boards two and three respectively.The best board four player went to Mufakose 2′ s Elvis Kaoma.

In the Junior division Mufakose 2 high school junior team won the category followed by St. Alberts, Harare High school and Mabvuku junior team. The winners in each category walked away with a chess set and team certificate, while the individual best players got some individual certificates. The other teams which came second and third got some certificates.Meanwhile in the senior girls division Oriel girls high school won the category winning all their four games followed by St. Johns Emerald Hill who were led by WCM Kundai Murinda who is to represent the Zimbabwe junior chess team in Zambia sometime in December.

Orile girls high school were led by Masheia Dzimba who also represented the Zimbabwe junior chess team which went to Port Elizabet , South Africa sometime last month and fared fairly well in a star-studded field. Mufakose 2 high school came third so was Mabvuku girls team but were separated on butcholtz to fourth position out of 7 teams. In the junior girls category St. Alberts won the section with 7 points followed by Marlbereign girls high school with 5 points so was St. Alberts B team. The tournament was run by FA Chimbamu and FA Gumbe Farirai theywere assisted by Terence Mukoviya. Thirty two teams took part in this tournament and a high level of improvement is taking place in this game.

Mabvuku high school hosted Prince Edward in a league match and won 4,5-1,5 Phillip Jekera played the game of the day when he under promoted his pawn to a knight give his opponent a checkmate in an interesting game. Zimbabwe men’s team showed character against South Africa in their round ten game when they won 2,5-1,5. IM Makoto Rodwell defeated South African Grand Master Kenny Solomon, while IM Farai Mandizha dreww against IM Watu Kobese, while Spencer Masango won his game on board three, while Emerald Mushore lost his game against Klassen on board four.

There was anxiety which gripped the whole nation as they watched the much awaited match against Egypt. We lost all the games but IM Farai Mandizha and Elisha Chimbamu went down fighting. Elisha missed a win against a Grand Master under time pressure. The tournament was the first one for the school, but it was such a well attended tourney as a first time to host. The teacher in charge of chess Mr Phineas promised that it will be bigger and better next time. All the pupils and staff members were fed by the school. Next week end it will be a hive of activity at Prince Edward school as schools meet for the double round fixtures to bring to finality the league fixtures.The games start at 0800 hours.