He won atournament in Angola which was a star-studded field.Some other Grandmasters took part in this tourney.He won the tournament with a full point.Since was now only left with one norm to become GM he managed to do just so.He is a history making and breaking chess player.He becomes Zimbabwe’s first and Southern Africa’s second Grandmaster,after Amon Simutowe of Zambia who got the norm two years ago.There was alot of potential fore Robert Gwaze and it has been unleashed in Angola.He conquered Africa twice at the AFRICA JUNIOR CHAMPNIONSHIPS and the Africa championships which he won in 2207 in another star-studded fieldwhich also had some African Grandmasters from Egypt and Tunisia.He beat Simutowe in one of the most interesting games of tha tournament as he claimed that championship before the latter became a Grand master.In 2008 He represented Africa at the World chess championships held in Moscow ,Russia.He was paired against yhe experienced Grandmaster Shirov,whom he lost to.
Lack of funds was the mani stumblintg block for the 28 year old.I saw him as Grandmaster three years ago.Among other notwothy accolades he won was a gold medal which he won at the Armenia Olympiads,where strong players like Kasparov failed to get the gold medal.My opinion is that he should have been awarded the title then.Anyway patience is virtue.What the chess fratenit5y is lacking is the sponsorship.Now that we now have a Grandmaster in Zimbabwe our plight now is to have FIDE rated tournaments here in Zimbabwe.He started
playing at primary school,while playing for the GlenNorah Gunners .The dream that was started in t5he dusty streets of GlenNorah has been brought to reality. Meanwhile in a chess open tournament held in Masvingo Celestine Verenga was the winner of that tournament.Mateta ran the tournament,he took over from the veteran Richard Knottenbelt.
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Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News