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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ST Georges College are confident of defending their Lomagundi College Invitational Chess senior boys title at Robin Smith Hall, in Chinhoyi this morning.
The tournament, which will be marking its second edition, will see more than 40 boys’ and girls’ teams taking part in the event sponsored by Tawford Enterprise and Maflig Chemicals.
Lomagundi College principal Dean Seeliger said the second edition is a special one as it coincides with the College celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The College has been doing well in several sporting disciplines where they have managed to provide national team players across all-age groups.
Louis Kahoba the St Georges coach was happy with the preparations they had and is looking forward to the tournament.
“The Lomagundi College Invitational Chess tournament is one of the biggest chess festivals and we are looking forward to defending our title. The tournament is competitive and we are looking forward to it and we have a better chance to do well.
“We still have two of the players who did duty last year and we are hopeful they will continue from where they left. Two of the boys’ Thandazani Mushore and Tawananyasha Mawire were in Egypt last week for the Africa Youth Championships,” said Kahoba.
Tournament director Maurice Mutowembwa said they are happy to be hosting the tournament for the second year running.
“We are happy and ready to host the second edition of the Lomagundi College Invitational Chess tournament which has grown in leaps and bounds. We started with 30 teams and this year the numbers have grown as we expect more than 40 teams to take part tomorrow (today),” said Mutowembwa.
Zimbabwe Chess Federation secretary general Todd Mapingire hailed Associated Trust Schools and government schools for supporting the sports and said they are helping in identifying young talent.
The inaugural edition saw Dominican Convent Harare winning both sections for the girls’ category in the junior and senior sections.
In the junior category Convent won all their five games and walked away with a floating shield, four standard chess sets and a digital clock for their efforts.
The Hellenic Junior team are the defending champions in the junior boys’ category after piping pre-tournament favourites Prince Edward and St. Georges teams.
The youthful team finished with 4.5 points out of five games which they played. They won a floating shield, some standard chess sets and a digital clock for their efforts,
Participating Schools
Irene College, ZRP Harare, Nyatsime College, Petra High, Kyle College, Haig Park Junior School, The Heritage, Queen Elizabeth, St Georges, Girls College, Hellenic Academy, St Ignatius, Prince Edward, CBC, Dominican Convent Harare, Dominican Convent Bulawayo, Hill-crest, Goldridge, Avondale Junior, Kutama College, St Johns College, Arundel, Chisipite Senior and Mazowe Boys.
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