This was an interesting tourney with two sections one for the males and the other for the females. In the Open section Zhemba Zhemuse dominated this section and nearly finised with 7,5 points out of the 8 games which were played.He drew his final round game against Prince Chidembo who surprised Elisha Thabo in their game in a blitz finish which was pulsating. Van Tariro Madanhi performed very well as well as he managed to defeat Elisha Thabo in an interesting game as well before defeating Thuso Mosutha of Botswana in an interesting end game which left some tungs wagging as it was a complicated position.
In one of the tournament’s most shocking results was the defeat of the highest rated player Elisha Chimbamu by Tapiwa Chikwavaire in a balanced position in which Tapiwa got a discovered attack gaining a free rook in the process. The surprises were not over until the seventh round when Paddington Dzinzi pulled a trigger against the former National Champion Elisha Chimbamu again to remove him in contetion of the first spot leaving Zhemba to be the sole leader of the tourney with a perfect 7 games.Eventually Elisha finished with 6 points and was tied on eight position.
The second position got a six way tie- with Van Madanhi, Dzinzi, Chidembo Prince,Lesole Pudungwane,Mugove Muririma, and Jele Tapiwa of Bulawayo. mosutha Thuso, Byron Gurajena,Tawanda Pondo,Tawodzera Tinashe,Musariranwa Blessing,Elisha Thabo,Mushure Raymond and Matiringe Archiford were all tied on the 8th position with 6 points.Moving on to special prizes Chikopita Brian was the best scholar he got $40.00 while Simon Mujaji was the second best scholar who pocketed $20.00Mujaji Kuzivakwashe was thebest under 12 player followed by Jasi Nathan they pocketed $20 and $10 respectively for their efforts. A total of one hunred and seventy-four players took part in the open section. The youngest boy was Dzamatira Ian who also got $10.00 for his effort. The players who won also walked away with prize humpers from the sponsors and during the tourney they also had these delicacies. Meanwhile in the Ladies section Kudzai Charinda won the section with 7/8.
she defeated her Zambian opponents namely Constance Mbatha, Linda Homoonga, who were at one time leading the section. The Women Candite Master has been doing very well ever since she took part in Baku with the ladies team at the Olympiads.she won a cool $300 plus a humper courtesy of the sponsors. There was a tie on the second postion with Linda Homoonga and Rhoda Masiyazi tying for the prize sharing the prize money and each getting $175. Constance Mbatha finished with 5,5 points while Mwilowa finished with 5,5 points and they pocketed $64.00 each. The best under 12 player was Anotidaishe Madamombe, while WCM Rumbidzai Mawire was the best scholar. Fungirirayi Chiweshe finished with 5 points in this star-studded field. The tourney produced the new champions in both sections, both from Zimbabwe after four years of dominance by the Zambian delegation who failed to turn up in the men’s section.
Fungai Matahwa who is now based in Swaziland also took part in this tourney, he enjoyed the tourney and promised to come back with a bang at the Easter Open which will be hosted by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation as well. The tournament Director was Elton Mhangarayi, while the Chief Arbiter was IA Simbarashe Murimi, who was assisted by FAs Chimbamu and Jemani. The tournament was generally a successful, as it attracted a lot of players who took part in this year opener Event. More events will be coming said the Vice President , Clive Mpambela.While the President DR. P. Mhaka thanked all the participants for coming to the tourney especially those from Zambia, Botswana and Swaziland.