Mate claims third consecutive chess title

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO’S Mate Secondary School proved that they are the undisputed Bulawayo Chess Association’s (BCA) junior girls’ champions by claiming their third consecutive title in a tournament held at Montrose Girls High on Saturday. Mate are holders of last month’s Mzilikazi Festival and the Gifford Congress held at the beginning of the month. In the weekend tournament, the rural school won the title in style by topping the group with 18.5 points, with four of their girls dominating all four boards.

Sandisiwe Sibanda scored four points on board one, while Thembelihle Ndlovu, Buhlebenkosi Ndebele and Samkeliso Ndebele got five points each on boards two, three and four respectively.

The Tsholotsho side beat Eveline, Girls’ College, Minda and hosts Montrose to the title.

In the senior girls, Faith Ncube, winner of board one with five points, and Charlene Mguni, the board two champion, powered Mpopoma to their third successive BCA schools title.

Mpopoma, tied on 13.5 match points with Montrose and Minda, won the senior girls’ competition courtesy of superior game points. They had four game points compared to Montrose and Minda’s 3.5.

In the junior boys’ category, Gifford, who lost their title to Founders at the Gifford Congress, retained the trophy they won at the Mzilikazi Festival with an impressive 15.5 points. Pre-tournament favourites Gifford were second with 12 points, while Mpopoma settled for third with 11.5 points.

The best players in the junior boys’ competition were Gifford’s Jimius Ndebele on board one, Mandwandwe’s Blessing Moyo on board two, Andile Bhebhe of Mpopoma on board three and Brighton Mabhena from Founders on board four. Save for Mabhena, who scored 4.5 points, the rest had five points each.

Gifford also won the senior boys’ title after posting 14 points.

Despite being overall champions, Gifford’s players missed out on first positions on their respective boards, with outstanding players being Shingai Mwedzi of Mpopoma on board one, Ihlathi’s Tapiwa Jele on board two, Victor Zikhali from Mandwandwe on board three and Brian Midzi of Mpopoma on board four.

Admire Moyo, a BCA committee member and the tournament director, was happy with the level of competition.

“We had 180 participants coming from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces. The number could have been bigger, but Gweru’s Chaplin failed to come. What’s pleasing is that competition is becoming stiffer with every passing tournament and we hope our next tournament will attract a bigger number,” said Moyo.

Results

Junior Girls

G/Pts M/Pts

Mate A 5 18.5

Eveline 3.5 9.5

Mate B 3 12

Montrose A 3 11.5

Montrose B 2.5 9

Minda A 1.4 8

Girls’ College 2.5 7

Minda B 0.5 4

Junior Boys

G/Pts M/Pts

Gifford A 4.5 15.5

Founders 3 12

Mpopoma 3.5 11.5

Gifford B 3 11.5

CBC A 2.5 11.5

Northlea 1.5 6

CBC C 0.5 3

CBC B 0.5 3

Senior Girls

G/Pts M/Pts

Mpopoma 4 13.5

Montrose 3.5 13.5

Minda A 3.5 13.5

Northlea 4 13

Mandwandwe 3.5 12.5

Founders 2 10

Girls’ College 2.5 9.5

Eveline 0.5 6.5

Minda B 1 4

Senior Boys

G/Pts M/Pts

Gifford A 4 14

CBC A 3.5 13

Mandwandwe 3.5 13

Mpopoma B 3 12.5

Mpopoma A 3.5 12

Hamilton 3 11

Gifford B 2 10.5

CBC B 1 7

Hwange 0 0