Sundaymail Editor
Sports Reporter
As far as origin stories go, chess prodigy Linda Shaba possibly has one of the most unique, if not peculiar, tales.
The 25-year-old has arguably had one of the best breakout seasons.
Her story begins in the high-density suburb of Glen Norah, where a group of men – both young and old – used to meet just a stone’s throw away from her house.
They would spend the whole day playing chess, and this piqued Shaba’s interest.
“I grew up in Glen Norah, and people used to play chess next door to my house.
“It was like the Glen Norah chess spot during those days,” said Shaba.
“I was fascinated by how these grown men would spend the whole day playing chess. Sometimes one could hear them arguing, yelling and laughing.”
It seemed she was destined to take up the sport. “My father also had a hand in me playing chess. “He also used to play at the same spot when he was not working.
“So, we frequented that place a lot.
“Sometimes, when the adults were not around or they were not playing, we would play as kids.” She, however, never thought she would one day fly the Zimbabwe flag high. She now holds a championship medal and was recently named the best African amateur chess player for 2022.
It is an accolade she ranks second best among a plethora of wins and championships last year.
“My best chess moment came at the 2019 African Games, which were hosted by Morocco,” she said.
“It was a mixed team event and we were ranked eighth, but (we) finished third.
“We did the impossible and won a bronze medal. “The 2022 African Amateur Individual Chess Championships come a close second as far as my favourite and top chess moments of the year 2022 are concerned.”
Shaba also has multiple awards from last year.
In addition to being crowned champion at the African Amateur Individual Chess Championships, she also earned a conditional Woman Fide Master title at the Chess Olympiad in India.
She was runner-up at the 2022 Minerva Zimbabwe Chess Ladies tournament.
She also won two legs of the revived Provincial Grand Prix Chess tournament.
Shaba credits her success to coach Eric Takawira, who is based in South Africa.
“The year 2022 has been an amazing one for me and I am really proud of what I have accomplished,” she said.
“However, it was not easy to achieve all this, and I don’t think I could have done any of it without my coach Eric Takawira.
“I have been working with him for 18 months and he has improved my game a lot. “I can never thank him enough for all the work and time he has poured into my game.” The chess prodigy is currently studying for a Diploma is Mass Communication at the Harare Polytechnic.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter