Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo
BULAWAYO Chess Association (BCA) is set to commemorate Zimbabwe’s 43rd birthday by hosting the 2023 Independence Open at Drill Hall Police Station in Bulawayo.
The annual championship will run just for one day and normal registration has closed. However, participants are still allowed to register, paying more than they would have prior to closure. The tournament is set to be the first championship of the year for BCA.
“As the chess community, we decided to celebrate independence in a different style where we come together and traditionally, we always celebrate it at Drill Hall where they offer us a free venue for the event,” said BCA secretary general, Thaddeus Ndebele.
The venue where the championship will take place can host up to 100 people and Ndebele said they are expecting to have a full house on this important day, both to the Bulawayo chess community and the country at large. He added that there will be players from outside Bulawayo also participating.
“So far, we have had a very good response. We have some players who have come from as far as Victoria Falls who actually arrived this morning (yesterday).
“They will rest today and take part in the event tomorrow. It’s a very big event that we enjoy and that is how we celebrate independence,” said Ndebele.
Since the association has no sponsor yet, prizes for winners will come from the money which would have been collected from the registration fees. Registration for BCA affiliates in the open section is pegged at US$5 while for non-affiliates it is US$7. In the development section, affiliates will register by paying US$3 while non-affiliates will fork out US$5 to take part in the decorated event.
Late registration for the open section is US$9 and US$7 for development.
The tournament will be part of the many other sporting activities that will be taking place today across the country in commemoration of the 43rd Independence Day. -@brandon_malvin
Online Reporter