By Tribulation Tapiwanashe Motsi (tmotsi)
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) organized a harmonized chess tournament that had 3 sections namely The Nationals, Candidates and Ladies section. The tournament was held at The Kiwiti’s BBQ restaurant in the Mezzanine floor of The POSB, Causeway Building, Harare, ZIMBABWE and ran from August 6th (opening, round 1) until August 9th, 2011 (round nine, prize giving). All sections played Swiss 9 rounds and the time controls were varying from 20/20min, 30/30 min and 60/60 minutes. A total prize fund was US$10,000 the overall winner of the National got $1,000 at the end of tournament. Among the sponsors were POSB, Kingdom Bank, Commaton Consultancy, Mr. Laston Maveza’s Sanyati Telecoms, and Ok Zimbabwe.
In his opening remarks the ZCF president Mr. Charles T. Kuwaza said that Zimbabwe’s top player International Master Robert Gwaze will not be taking part in the Nationals as he is in Camp together with Erick Takawira in preparation for his Chess World Cup match against Ukraine Champion 2011, and Ex FIDE world Champ Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine to be held in Khanty- Mansisky, Russia from the 27th August 2011- 20th September 2011.
Botswana based Jona Chaka, SA based International Master Kudzanai Mamombe and Mufaro Joseph Kudakwashe Mangono (who was attending his Master’s degree programme lectures) could not make it for the tournament. This saw new entrants and replacements into the National team namely Elisha T. Chimbamu (aka Checka, winner of Candidates 2010), Byron Gurajena (BG, former national) and Emerald Mushore who was appointed by the ZCF officials. They joined South Africa based Rodwell (Kotov) Makoto, the tournament top seed, The great Bismark Bhobhojani (Bolbochan), Spencer Masango (Spoon-man!), Lloyd Moyo (Samaz), Farirai Masanganise popularly known as Mukoma, Lewis Kahoba, and Botswana based Dion James Moyo the defending champion.
ZIM Nationals 2011 Final standings cross table
| ZIM NATIONALS 2011- PLAYERS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points |
| 1Rodwell Makoto | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9/9 |
| 2.Spencer Masango | 0 | * | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 5/9 |
| 3.Bismark Bhobhojani | 0 | 0.5 | * | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | 5/9 |
| 4. Farirai Masanganise | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | * | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5/9 |
| 5. Dion James Moyo | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 5/9 |
| 6. Elisha Chimbamu | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | * | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 5/9 |
| 7.Lloyd Moyo | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | * | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 3.5/9 |
| 8.Emerald Mushore | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | * | 1 | 0 | 3/9 |
| 9. Lewis Kahoba | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | * | 1 | 2.5/9 |
| 10. Byron Gurajena | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | * | 1.5/9 |
Rodwell Kotov Makoto proved to be the strongest man of the tournament as he finished with a perfect score of 9/9 points. Makoto’s chess strength has improved a great deal as proved by his results from the Africa Individual Chess Tournament held in Maputo, Mozambique a few months ago where he drew with Egyptian Grandmasters and the recently ended South Africa Open & Commonwealth games where he played Indian Grandmasters. Kotov mostly played closed openings: the Catalan, Gruenfeld, Slav, Queen’s Gambit declined, and English except for his game against Chimbamu which featured a Guiocco piano. Kotov showed a very deep chess insight and understanding of positional Chess. Some of his games can be mistaken for the world’s number 3 Levon Aronian of Armenia!!!
THE CANDIDATES SECTION
This year’s edition of the Candidates was quite tough. It featured veteran Chess players: S. D Ropi, Moses Gweshe, Kandawasvika, Gift Sithole, Reuben Muza and ZIM top Police Officers who have just qualified to represent Zimbabwe in the SARPCO games, to be held next week in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Names like Shepherd Chimhungwe, Bradley Adonis, Rugare Muchena, Farai Janyure, Albert Maketo and Officer Nyeve. A lot of Candidate hopefuls were frustrated by the way this section was ran.These include top players like Heath Darare, Elisha Thabo (Thabov),Admire Mawire, John Jokomo (Kirsty Coventry) Anesu Masimba (Anand),Paul Soti, Munashe Ziome, Farirai Gumbe, Tribbie Motsi and Hamilton Mandeya popularly known as Buddha or Budapest!
| Top 15 after round 9 of ZCF CANDIDATES CHESS 2011 |
| No. PNo. Name Score WP SB PS rat. TPR W-We |
| 1. 134 CASTRO SIBANDA 8.0 55.0 48.00 40.5 1940 2274 +3.32 |
| 3 HAMILTON MANDEYA 8.0 48.5 43.50 37.0 2000 2228 +1.97 |
| 3. 108 MICHAEL MUSEKIWA 7.5 52.0 42.50 38.5 1900 2181 +3.09 |
| 4. 90 GIFT SITHOLE 7.0 55.5 40.50 37.0 1950 2114 +1.78 |
| 92 MUNYARADZI CHIVENDE 7.0 53.0 38.00 35.0 1900 2127 +2.59 |
| 16 ANESU MASIMBA 7.0 50.5 35.25 40.0 1990 2118 +1.33 |
| 116 ELISHA THABO 7.0 49.0 39.00 34.0 1990 2122 +1.42 |
| 104 SHERPERD CHIMHUNGWE 7.0 47.5 33.00 33.0 1990 2094 +1.06 |
| 60 GIBSON MALIJE 7.0 46.5 32.50 33.0 1900 2123 +2.50 |
| 56 RUGARE MUCHENA 7.0 44.5 31.50 35.0 1950 2096 +1.60 |
| 11. 91 PROSPER MAKOTORE 6.5 49.5 33.00 34.5 1800 2117 +3.80 |
| 23 ALBERT MAKETO 6.5 47.5 31.25 34.5 1980 2053 +0.83 |
| 112 PRINCE DAPETHA 6.5 46.0 31.75 30.5 1900 2018 +1.37 |
| 36 CARRADINE GARAN’ANGA 6.5 44.0 30.25 29.5 1900 2058 +1.91 |
| 15. 75 TAWANDA PONDO 6.0 53.0 30.00 32.0 1920 2036 +1.41 |
Players travelled from all parts of Zimbabwe that is, Mutare, Bulawayo, Chegutu, Kadoma, Bindura and Gweru. Only Masvingo players did not turn up for the event as they were not aware of the dates. Celestine Verenga from Masvingo phoned during the prize giving ceremony inquiring about the tournament dates.
This tournament proved that a lot of work needs to be done in Arbitration and tournament organization in ZIM.
LADIES SECTION
The ladies section was mainly comprised of young & upcoming chess players, scholars who battled it out with veteran players like Rhoda Masiyazi popularly known as Motherz, Bridget Murandu-Pumuyo and Fungiraiini. A Chengutu based scholar Colletta Wakuruwarehwa proved to be very strong in this section as she chalked up 9/9 points hence won the tournament with a perfect score. Rhoda Masiyazi came second Bridget Pumuyo Murandu 3rd , on the 4th position was Tatenda Tasty Zengeni. More results to be posted soon.
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what a research.thank you for this.u can also check my reports on the zimbabwean websites.
thanks Courage. Keep on supporting us. We aim to bring the local chess news on this site. But mostly we want to develop the young talent and your support is greatly appreciated. Chess at the grassroots level is the starting point in order to produce chess sensations like Gwaze and Makoto. So help us coz together we can make it!
thanx for chess updates results
lovely stuff!
lovely stuff being done at the Glen Norah Knights chess club. Keep it up in leading the way for other clubs in the country. love your website, hope it keeps on supplying more content!