BCA to host chess tourney

Plaxedes Sibanda Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Chess Association will host the Zimbabwe School of Mines Open tournament at the institution’s campus on Saturday. BCA publicity manager Russell Dzute said they expected a huge attendance as the tournament was open to all chess players. “The tournament will feature all of Bulawayo’s top players. It is going to be the biggest tournament after the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) open tourney which was held in April,” said Dzute.
The tournament will be played in seven rounds, with competitors playing individually.

Dzute expressed gratitude to Government ministries and non-government organisations for supporting chess.
“I am very grateful to the Ministry of Education, Right Trust and Virtuous Women’s Trust who have been instrumental in supporting the game,” he said.

Dzute said winners in different categories would walk away with different monetary prizes after competing in three categories. These are the open, ladies and primary schools sections.

A total of 40 players including current Bulawayo champion and national team player Castro Sibanda have confirmed their participation.
The registration fees are pegged at $5 but players that failed to meet yesterday’s deadline will have to fork out more as late registration attracts a penalty fee.

Meanwhile, Dzute said the Bulawayo chess league will end next month and the city will have the opportunity to host the Zimbabwe Grand Prix tournament in October that will feature players from all over the country.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Universities chess team scooped two gold medals in both men’s and women’s categories at the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association Games which ended in Zambia yesterday. The men’s team whipped the defending champions Zambia by 2.5-1.5 in the final round after winning all the four rounds while the women’s team also thumped the hosts in the final.

The tourney featured 10 countries from Southern Africa comprising Zimbabwe, hosts Zambia, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa.