Innocent Kurira [email protected]
CHESS is widely recognised for its ability to sharpen the mind, cultivate patience and develop strategic thinking, but organisers of the inaugural Bulawayo Chess Open Tournament believe the game can also play a role in addressing social challenges, particularly drug and substance abuse among young people.
As Bulawayo hosts the tournament at Agape College today and tomorrow, the Bulawayo Chess Association (BCA) is looking beyond competition and prize money, seeking to use the game to bring communities together, engage young people and promote positive social change.
With drug and substance abuse among young people remaining a growing concern, organisers believe chess can provide a constructive alternative, giving children and young people an opportunity to develop skills, build relationships and channel their energies into productive activities.
Tournament organiser Siza Brilliant Ndlovu said the competition marked the beginning of a broader initiative to use chess as a vehicle for community engagement.
“The tournament is a first of its kind and the idea behind the tournament is not only chess but we are also engaging society via chess. We want to meet under chess circumstances and see what we can build from the chess momentum.
“We have lots of youth into drug and substance abuse, so we want to engage these youths through sport. Bulawayo Open first. We are taking young kids from as little as six years old. It’s open to everyone. We are also engaging churches,” said Ndlovu.
The initiative seeks to widen access to chess by creating opportunities for children and young people who might not otherwise consider it a sporting activity, while encouraging participation across different sections of the community.
The involvement of churches reflects the association’s broader outreach strategy, which aims to take chess beyond established clubs and competitive circles and make it accessible to people from diverse backgrounds.
The tournament will feature Open, Ladies and Development sections, catering for players with different levels of experience and ability.
The Open and Ladies sections will be played over seven rounds under the Swiss system, with each player allocated 60 minutes. The Development Section, scheduled for today, will feature six rounds, with each player allocated 15 minutes.
The competition also offers financial incentives, with the winner of the Open Section set to receive US$160, while the runner-up will pocket US$120. The third- and fourth-placed players will receive US$80 and US$50 respectively.
In the Ladies Section, the winner will walk away with US$80, while the fifth- and sixth-placed players will receive US$60 and US$40 respectively.
Participants in the Development Section will compete for chess clocks, chess sets, stationery and medals, providing additional incentives for emerging players.
The tournament will also offer a pathway to further competition, with the best Under-20 player set to receive sponsorship to participate in the Bulawayo 2026 December Candidates Tournament, allowing a promising young player to advance their chess development.
