The Daily News Live of today the 9th of Jan 2019 reads….
“ZIM JUNIOR WINS AFRICA CHESS TITLE……..
Zimbabwe Junior Leeroy Mpala was crowned African Amateur Chess Champion in Windhoek, Namibia on Sunday.
The 17-year old Kwekwe-based chess protegee is now set to represent the continent at The World Amateur Chess Championship in April.
Zimbabwe Chess vice president Clive Mphambela said Mpala’s achievement was a big milestone for the player, federation and the country.
‘It’s a big personal achievement for the young man and also for the country. It reflects the fact that Zimbabwe chess is coming of age,’ Mphambela told the Daily News.
‘The triumph on the African stage comes just two months after Zimbabwe men team’s outstanding performance at the World Chess Olympiad in October….’
read on…
https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2019/01/09/zim-junior-wins-africa-chess-title
A very good article there by Zimbabwe’s Daily News Live …
Now away from the article…
In pic its all smiles Leeroy with Constance Mbatha and Kgomotso April Ndachipiwa in Windhoek.
Here is how Leeroy performed…
2018 AFRICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS – U1700 Open
Player info
| Name | Mpala Leeroy |
| Starting rank | 18 |
| Rating | 0 |
| Rating national | 0 |
| Rating international | 0 |
| Performance rating | 1806 |
| Points | 7,5 |
| Rank | 1 |
| Federation | ZIM |
| Ident-Number | 0 |
| Fide-ID | 11003367 |
| Rd. | Bo. | SNo | Name | Rtg | FED | Pts. | Res. |
| 1 | 9 | 9 | Jaftha Brian | 1537 | NAM | 3,0 | w 1 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | Banda Davies | 1626 | BOT | 4,5 | s 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Banda Stanley | 1689 | ZAM | 4,0 | w 1 |
| 4 | 1 | 4 | Ohlson Cecil James | 1635 | RSA | 6,0 | w 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | Khanyapa Theko | 1686 | LES | 6,5 | s 1 |
| 6 | 1 | 3 | Mncwabe Minenhle Junior | 1639 | RSA | 7,5 | w 0 |
| 7 | 2 | 7 | Uapingene Uatiavi Jossy | 1607 | NAM | 5,0 | s 1 |
| 8 | 1 | 15 | Khutsafalo Moses | 0 | BOT | 4,5 | s 1 |
| 9 | 1 | 12 | Du Plessis Jan | 1377 | RSA | 5,5 | w ½ |
Wow a brilliant run by Leeroy..from starting rank of 18th to the top no. 1 spot and a splendid performance rating of 1806 by a 0 rated player! Also only shaved 1 and half points to South Africans in the 6th and 9th round and the rest were wins to score 7.5/9! All the best in Mexico City in April 2019 in the World Amateur Championships representing Africa..!
Sections at the event were:
U2300 Open, U2000 Open, U1700 Open, and Womens’ Sections
The dates were; 30 Dec 2018 at 08:00 – 7 Jan 2019 at 11:00
Venue was;
The Klein Windhoek Guesthouse <www.facebook.com/KWGHNamibia/…> 2 Hofmeyer Street, Klein Windhoek, 9000 Windhoek, Namibia
And Hosted by Namibia Chess Federation
*Winners were awarded with trophies, medals, handsome USD cash prizes as well as air tickets to the Mexico held World Amateur Championship in April!* World Amateur Championship 2019 Mexico city, Mexico 23-Apr-2019 29-Apr-2019
Final Ranking after 9 Rounds 9 (U1700 OPEN)
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
| 1 | 18 | Mpala Leeroy | ZIM | 0 | 7,5 | 35,0 | 45,0 | 7 |
| 2 | 3 | Mncwabe Minenhle Junior | RSA | 1639 | 7,5 | 33,5 | 44,0 | 7 |
| 3 | 2 | Khanyapa Theko | LES | 1686 | 6,5 | 35,5 | 46,0 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | Ohlson Cecil James | RSA | 1635 | 6,0 | 33,0 | 44,5 | 6 |
| 5 | 12 | Du Plessis Jan | RSA | 1377 | 5,5 | 33,5 | 44,0 | 4 |
| 6 | 7 | Uapingene Uatiavi Jossy | NAM | 1607 | 5,0 | 34,0 | 43,0 | 5 |
| 7 | 10 | Sihlahla Emmanuel | NAM | 1529 | 5,0 | 30,5 | 40,5 | 4 |
| 8 | 14 | Dumbura Michael | NAM | 0 | 5,0 | 25,5 | 32,0 | 3 |
| 9 | 5 | Banda Davies | BOT | 1626 | 4,5 | 35,5 | 46,0 | 4 |
| 10 | 6 | Campbell Clarence | NAM | 1624 | 4,5 | 31,5 | 41,0 | 4 |
| 11 | 15 | Khutsafalo Moses | BOT | 0 | 4,5 | 30,5 | 39,5 | 4 |
| 12 | 13 | Gaoseb Manfredo | NAM | 1273 | 4,5 | 28,0 | 35,5 | 3 |
| 13 | 16 | Lebakeng Thomo | BOT | 0 | 4,0 | 33,0 | 42,0 | 4 |
| 14 | 1 | Banda Stanley | ZAM | 1689 | 4,0 | 31,0 | 41,5 | 3 |
| 15 | 8 | Daniel Franklin | ANG | 1573 | 4,0 | 30,5 | 39,5 | 3 |
| 16 | 11 | Gurirab Kevin | NAM | 1395 | 3,5 | 28,0 | 37,0 | 2 |
| 17 | 19 | Vhezha James | ZIM | 0 | 3,5 | 27,0 | 36,0 | 2 |
| 18 | 9 | Jaftha Brian | NAM | 1537 | 3,0 | 26,0 | 35,0 | 1 |
| 19 | 17 | Mouton Daniel Jacques | NAM | 0 | 2,0 | 27,5 | 35,0 | 1 |
