Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Royal Junior School Winter Chess Tournament, held over the weekend in Glen View, Harare, saw a clear two-way dominance from Haig Park Primary School and Budiriro 3 Primary School.
The well-attended event drew 21 schools and a record about 330 participants from across the country, including elite institutions.
Budiriro 3 Primary School showcased an impressive performance, securing numerous top positions across various age groups.
Their pupils claimed first place in the Under-12 boys and Under -14 girls categories, complemented by a significant number of second and third-place finishes.
Not to be outdone, Haig Park Primary School also demonstrated exceptionally strong results, producing champions in four distinct divisions; the Under-8 girls, Under-10 girls, Under-10 boys, and Under-14 boys categories.
The tournament highlighted a high level of young chess talent and competitive spirit among participants from diverse backgrounds.
The event, running for the third consecutive year, successfully brought together young chess enthusiasts from across the country for a competitive and engaging weekend.
Mutasa Primary School from Highfield in Harare had a champion in the Under-8 boys division.
SOS Herman Primary School produced the winner in the Under-12 girl’s category while Seke Primary School saw a pupil clinch second place in the Under-12 boys category and third in the Under -14 boys.
Royal Junior School, as the host, also had a medalist with a second-place finish in the Under-8 girls’ category and a third-place finish in the Under -14 girls.
Avondale Primary School had pupils finish third in both the Under -10 boys and Under-14 boys categories.
Vilika Chess Academy had a third-place finisher in the Under-8 boys category.
Highlighting the tournament’s broader impact, the Founder of Royal Junior School, Onias Sawadya, explained its critical importance in bridging the divide between elite sports opportunities offered by affluent schools and those available in less privileged communities.
He asserted that cultivating these analytical sports at the primary level was essential for honing students’ critical thinking capacities.
Royal Junior School’s commitment to inclusivity extends to joining the EPSA group, which facilitates access to a wider range of sports for schoolchildren who traditionally lack such opportunities.
The school now offers a diverse sports programme that includes football, tennis, rugby, volleyball, basketball, swimming, cricket, choreography and chess, alongside traditional offerings.
While acknowledging initial struggles in these “elite sports,” the school reported significant progress, with learners rapidly improving and competing effectively against their northern suburbs counterparts.
Academic achievements were also celebrated, with Royal Junior School maintaining a 100% pass rate in national examinations for four consecutive years, including 45% of pupils scoring 10 units or below last year.
“We can see that in 3-4 years’ time we will be competing quite well with our counterparts,” said Sawadya. “So we are happy that we have been able to expose our learners to these elite schools.
“We are happy to advise that we were graced by a team from America, from the Impact Sports Group, from Carolina.
“They came and they were offering coaching clinics in basketball. And this has been quite an encouragement to our kids.
“They were so excited to be coached by a group from the United States being exposed to high level basketball.”
Royal Junior School is also breaking new ground for its pupils with a group of five girls set to represent Zimbabwe at the upcoming SADC debate competitions in South Africa on August 9 and 10.
This comes after the team’s success in the national competitions, marking a significant achievement for the school and its students.
Online Reporter