Online Reporter
Tendai Chara-Zimpapers Sports
PRINCE Musokeri did Zimbabwe proud after scooping a bronze medal at the just-ended Second Chess Olympiad for people with disabilities held in Kazakhstan from October 16 to October 26.
Musokeri won five out of six games and walked away with the best board three prize (bronze) medal as an individual.
He was part of a four-member team which was made up of Presence Murove, Shantel Gweshe and Kudakwashe Guvamatanga.
Overall, Zimbabwe was placed 30th after losing to Venezuela, Panama and Croatia.
The team beat the United Arab Emirates and drew with Kazakhstan.
The tournament was won by FIDE 1, a team which was made up of players from countries that are under international sanctions and refugees.
Poland took second position.
Blessing Jemani, the team captain, was impressed by the team’s performance.
“Based on the results, we did very well. Our team was made up of first-timers, and it was the youngest team at the event,” Jemani said.
Jemani was particularly pleased by Musokeri’s exploits.
“Prince’s effort and strength tells us that we are not far off from the rest of the world.
He stood toe-to-toe with India and Poland on the podium.”
Jemani, however, bemoaned lack of game time for chess players with disabilities.
“We do not take chess with the magnitude we should for the people living with disabilities.”
“Our chess is competitive enough. We just need to keep scaling up and make sure that we keep our top players in shape.”
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation, according to Jemani, has already started preparations for the 2026 Paralympics which will be held in Uzbekistan.
