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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
HAVING spent four years on the sidelines after retiring in 2016, veteran chess player Heath Darare will make an emotional return at the 2021 Minerva Zimbabwe Open Chess tournament, which begins today at Joina City in Harare.
The veteran player, who was focusing on his studies, believes he still has what it takes to give his opponents a good run for their money at this tournament.
During his playing days, Darare won the 1995 Harare juniors, the chess league with Glen Norah Gunners, a bronze medal at the University Games in 2013 and won several Grand Prix as well as the overall Grand Prix winner as well.
The 37-year-old Harare-based player has seen it all in the sport but had called it a day in the sport he loves so much after some frustrations and the need to develop himself through education.
”I think this is going to be my comeback moment after I had retired some four years ago. Playing again brings with it a lot of memories, excitement but also apprehension considering am making a comeback in a big tourney. I feel I have some unfinished business before I retire so I may play for another two to three years.
“I wanted to comeback during next year’s Easter Open but I thought I could start to have a feel again this early and start to build up my strength again.
“I had been focusing on attaining my Masters Degree and now that I have achieved that I can concentrate on my game. It has been long since I played over the board,” said Darare.
Darare is expected to pitch up in the Open category of the Zimbabwe Open which has generated so much interest from professional and league players.
Darare says he was following chess from the sidelines and has not lost touch with the developments in the sport.
“I was still in constant touch with developments in the sport and I was following the world championship which were held recently with keen interest.
“As someone who has won several titles like the Harare Open, several national titles and the Grand Prix, which we used to play, I hope I am still capable.
“I have been playing many online games in the past and I am happy that the Zimbabwe Open is back. We were missing these times where we would battle it out and help each other develop as players,” added Darare
The 2021 Minerva Zim Open Chess tournament has attracted so much interest from players across the country and it will be a battle for supremacy in all the three categories.
Online Reporter