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Takudzwa Chitsiga-Sports Reporter
TWO high level International Chess Federation (FIDE) members were expected in the country last night on a mission to help grow the sport in Zimbabwe.
The chairperson of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission Nigel Short and World International Master Anzel will have engagements with the Zimbabwe Chess Federation and other local stakeholders.
Apart from the core business, the pair will also visit Victoria Falls during their to-week stay.
ZCF president Muchakanikirwa Mkanganwi said the local game will benefit more from the delegation through their expertise in the sport.
“We are happy to be hosting such high profile chess dignitaries. It is very rare to have an opportunity with the two but as Zimbabwe we manoeuvred to have them in the country. They will have several events with a black tie event which will see players facing off with the Short who is highly rated.
“The idea is to have a positive perception about chess as a sport. I am glad that they will have an opportunity to interact with people in the high density suburbs as we take the sport to the people,” said Mkanganwi.
Short is a chess grandmaster, columnist, coach and commentator who has been the FIDE Director for Chess Development since September 2022. He earned the title of grandmaster at the age of 19 and was ranked third in the world from July 1988 to July 1989.
In 1993, he played a World Chess Championship match, where he qualified to play Garry Kasparov in the PCA World Championship in London, where Kasparov won 12½ to 7½.
Online Reporter