Mabvuku High school chess team won the just ended St. Johns Chess festival held on 28 February at St. Johns College school. The team comprised of Munyaradzi Thom, Trevor Macheka, Solomon Chimuzura and Phillip Jekera.
The team trounced all its opponents shrugging off the stiffest challenge from Mazowe High school and Harare High who lost 3-1.Earlier on they dismissed the hosts in round one in an exciting encounter. Marlborough High school and ZRP Boarding completes the list of teams which Mabvuku played against.
In the final round ZRP Boarding school wa dismissed 4 nil a whitewash. Munyaradzi Thom was the best player on board one winning all his games on board one.Michael Bverekwa of Mazowe was the best player on board 2, while Solomon Chimuzura was the best player on board 3 and Chenjerai Mudonhi of Highfield 2 High was the best player on board four in the seniors category.
Highfield 2 High school came second in the seniors third position. category followed by Mazowe High school on third, ZRP Boarding School came fourth and the defending Champions Goromonzi came fifth. For coming out first Mabvuku High school won a solar geyser sun power to be installed at the school, a shield, certificate and 2 chess sets, while individual best players got some personal shields, certificates and chess books to improve their game.
Twenty teams took part in the seniors category, while 34 teams took part in juniors category.
Meanwhile in the juniors category Kwayedza High school scooped the first prize in this section. They won some chess sets and a DGT clock as well as a shield for their commendable effort. Prince Edward school came second after defeating Mabvuku junior team in the last round.
They Prince Edward survived a scare against Avondale Primary school who eventually came fourth on board points after they were tied on the same position with Goromonzi junior team. Mazowe High school came fifth in this division. Kwayedza High school and Harare High school played an interesting game which Kwayedza narrowly won 2,5-1,5.
Prince Edward junior team won with the same margin. Avondale Primary school team comprised of Bollard and Billard Paratema the twins on board one and two, Rumbidzai Mawire and Quincy Kasese completed the team.
This youthful team has a lot of potential. They played games of their lives only to lose in blitz ending against the Prince Edward school team juniors in a fiercely contested battle which they panicked under time pressure and eventually lost.
On board one Luberto had a lost position but took advantage of the time and converted a lost position when Billard missed a winning combination.
Girls College were awarded the prize of the most disciplined team during the tournament, while Rumbidzai Mawire was the best junior girl, Kudakwashe Murinda of Dominican Convent was the best senior girl player on board one.
The best junior girls team was Zengeza 2 girls B’ girls team. The junior individual prizes were as follows: best player on board 4 was Tatenda Kachere of Goromonzi, Leeroy Mutukwa of Mabvuku High school junior team was the best player on board 3 with a perfect score. Audience Mbuwa was the best player on board 2, while Kudakwashe Zimbowa was the best player on board one with a perfect score.
The Chief Arbiter for the tournament was FA Farirai Gumbe who was assisted by FA Chimbamu Victor who also happens to be the coach for Mabvuku High school chess team. Munyaradzi Arigundiya and Charles ‘Masack’ also assisted in this successfully hosted tournament which is one of the best in the country in terms of competition.
The coordinator Mr Julius Musiwa also roped in some parents and among them was the Gwatidzo brother who also during his playing days at Prince Edward used to cause a lot of upsets. This tournament is the second major tourney which Mabvuku won barely a year after winning the Mazowe Maflicg chess festival.
Mazowe chess festival will be held again on the 21st of March.Those interested to take part in this tournament get in touch with Mr Silver 0773 069 827 the teacher in charge of chess at the school.
