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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
THE National University of Science and Technology (Nust) is set to host the Tuverl Bulawayo Chess Association (BCA) Candidates tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
Chess players from all over the country are expected to compete in the two-day event, one of Bulawayo’s major tournaments. The tournament comes after Bulawayo successfully hosted the National Candidates in August.
Running under the mantra “Umkhulu Lo Msebenzi” BCA partnered with the shuttle services, Tuverl as they launch their application for the company in the city.
Registration for the open and women’s sections is pegged at US$5 for normal registration while those who enter late have to fork out US$8. The deadline for normal registration is today while late registration will run from tomorrow until Thursday.
Registration after Thursday will result in missing one round of the tournament.
In the development section, normal registration is pegged at US$3 and late registration will cost US$5.
In terms of time control in the tournament, it will be 61 minutes plus five seconds from the first move of the match.
The tournament will also be different from other previous competitions as the women and developmental sections have an increased prize structure. Most tournaments have had a ceiling of US$1 000 however, this one rested on US$1 500 total cash prize.
A spokesperson said they are hoping to have the game’s mother body, Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) promote rated tournaments around the country so that some players get the chance to compete for the national team.
“We are looking to get ZCF to promote rated tournaments around the country so that by the end of next year players like Tapiwa Jele would have competed for the national team with a good FIDE rating boost,” said the spokesperson.
Winners of the Tuverl Candidates are expected to stem from the On Standby list which has five players.
They are Prince Chidembo from Nust, Donald Mbondo from Mpopoma, Pride Ngulube of Nust, Tarcisio Chikandi from Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Bulawayo and Cyril Chigodo from Harare.
The winner will automatically play numbers 1-10 in the BCA Bulawayo Championships in December.
The final list for next month’s championship has Kudakwashe Sibanda (defending champion), Jele, Castro Sibanda, Blessing Moyo, Liberty Moyo, Benson Chinodyanama, Irvin Machengedzero, Alms Machengedzero and Andile Ngwenya. — @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter