adminSports Correspondent
PROFESSIONAL and amateur chess players from across the country will next week converge in Mutare for an annual chess tournament. The two-day potentially explosive tournament will be held at Mutare Polytechnic. Zimbabwe Chess Federation is organising the event. In an interview, some of the local organisers, Tinashe Tawodzera and Trymore Nyevhe, confirmed that the tournament will be on before end of this month.
“We are looking forward to hosting yet another intriguing edition this year. We are yet to ascertain the actual dates, but it will be during the last days of this month. The tournament is open to everyone. Chess players of all age group and across Zimbabwe are welcome,” said Tawodzera.
Last year more than 50 players from different parts of the country converged at Mutare Polytechnic where Harare-based Heath Darare won the first Grand Prix of 2014.
Seasoned chess player, Dion Moyo came second, while Spencer Masango came third.
Mutare Boys’ High’s Elton Tsiga was named the best scholar with three points out of seven, while Colleta Wakururehwa was crowned the best player in the females’ category with a total of four points.
The seasoned Dion Moyo came out first in 2013.
Each year, Zimbabwe Chess Federation runs five Grand Prix chess tournaments in major cities namely Mutare, Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Kwekwe. One of the players who faltered in the last round in last year’s edition, Mutsa Makombore, said he would pull a surprise and emerge tops.
“Last year’s tournament was tough and very competitive. I believe that this year’s event will be tougher, but I am ready for it. I have been training hard and I am hoping to pull a surprise and outwit some of the seasoned players who are highly-ranked,” said the confident Makombore who hails from Harare.
Mutare will be banking on some of its most experienced players, the likes of Prince Dhabeta and Trymore Nyevhe.
Online Reporter