adminMzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
SIZANE High School chess ace Nomalungelo Mathe won the women’s candidates’ category title at the National Heroes Championships in Harare on Tuesday. She walked away with $100 for her efforts. Linda Habba who was second pocketed $50.Mathe is the reigning winter festival women’s championship which was held at Bulawayo Polytechnic in June.
She also won a ticket to participate in the closed group of national women’s championships next year, where there are only 10 best graded players allowed to contest.
Colletta Wakuruwarewa won this year’s edition of the women’s national championships and she got $400 in prize money.
Bulawayo Chess Club’s highest ranked player Castro Sibanda came third with 5.5 points in the men’s national championships scooping $400 in prize money.
The elite section was won by Emarald Mushore who walked away with $900 while Rodwell Makoto on second pocketed $600.
Lewis Kahoba was crowned the candidate master after beating Zhemba Jemusse and Gerald Mhondiwa who were tied on second spot.
Kudakwashe Sibanda of Bulawayo Chess Club shared fourth place with Tawanda Pondo on 7.5 points in the candidates’ category.
Other players who scooped special prizes were Zhemba Jemusse who won $100 for being the Best Scholar as Alpha Chaendera was crowned best Under-14 and Kudzai Mhandu best Under-12 and got $50 each.
Over 100 players took part in the event.
Tournament organiser Elton Mangarai praised the number of women and children that participated in the event.
“It was encouraging to see women and kids coming in numbers to play, I think the youngest player was eight years old it shows passion in sport,” said Mangarai.
Online Reporter