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Takudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
ALL roads lead to Prince Edward School this weekend for the 2023 edition of the Crystal Candy Development Under-16 chess tournament.
The tournament, which is now in its third year, will see a huge number of school-going children from all over the country competing.
The tournament doubles up on efforts currently being carried out in the recently launched Crystal Candy National Schools Chess League which sees schools clashing from district, provincial, to national level to determine the country’s chess champions in schools. The Development Tournament is a welcome initiative from Zimbabwe Chess Federation and Crystal Candy Zimbabwe to grow the sport, with key focus on grassroots, and to guarantee a positive future for chess in the country.
Almost 100 primary schools and 100 secondary schools have since registered to be part of the pilot initiative.
The upcoming two-day chess tournament will feature an individual format, having five age groups within the whole group from Under-8, 10, 12, 14 and 16s.
Prizes in cash, hampers from Crystal Candy and accolades are guaranteed for top female and male competitors in the main category of the event.
The tournament is expected to set a new tone for chess in schools in the coming years so that the sport can have consistent and meaningful ways to identify and select international representatives. The Zimbabwe Chess Federation president Muchakanakirwa Mkanganwi expressed confidence in the preparations done so far to make the event a success.
“We expect more schools and participants to register before the deadline day and this inaugural Crystal Candy Development Tournament.
“The tournament will change the chess landscape in Zimbabwe as we want to have more children in schools playing chess and once we catch them at such a young age, it will be easier to identify, nurture and cultivate the talent towards having more International Masters and even Grandmasters in the country.
“The country is also facing a serious problem of drug and substance abuse among the youth and chess has proved a reliable tool in fighting this vice as it trains its young adherents to think critically and make positive decisions,” said Mkanganwi.
“The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has taken a keen interest in Zimbabwe due to the efforts being done in schools particularly the Crystal Candy National Schools Chess League being played countrywide.
“The Chairperson of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission is expected to visit Zimbabwe for the first time later this month to witness such remarkable efforts. ZCF continues to call for corporates to come aboard and help grow chess in the country,” added Mkanganwi.
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