Online Reporter
Tendai Chara
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwean team taking part in the World Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has experienced mixed results, losing two of the first three matches.
Zimbabwe is being represented by Tapiwa Gora, Tichaona Machona, Presence Murove, Shantel Gweshe and Tapiwa Mvududu.
The event is a global team competition that brings together chess players with visual, hearing and physical impairments from around the world.
In the first round, Zimbabwe lost 3-1 to Switzerland. Two draws from Board 1, featuring Tapiwa Gora and Tichaona Machona, were not enough to secure a positive score for team Zimbabwe.
On Boards 3 and 4, Murove Presence and Shantel Gweshe also lost their deciding games.
In the second round, Zimbabwe bounced back with a convincing 3-1 win over Myanmar, before heading into the third round with confidence following the victory.
The win over Myanmar was expected to build momentum and demonstrate resilience as the team aimed to maintain a positive campaign on the international stage.
However, the third-round clash against Spain proved difficult, with Spain winning 3-1.
It was the first time Zimbabwe had faced Spain in the history of the Olympiad.
Round 4 was played later yesterday, with Zimbabwe taking on Venezuela.
