Tatenda Melisa Zengeni wins University of Zimbabwe Ladies Open Chess Tournament 2011

By Tribbie Tapiwanashe Motsi

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Ladies open chess tournament was staged in the Lecture Theatre 400 building at the UZ campus on the 17th & 18th September 2011. The event attracted 17 players from different parts of Zimbabwe. Among them were St John’s Emerald Hill students Paidaishe Zengeni, Kudzanai Charinda and Rejoice Ngwarati. Janice Lerato Mothabi a student at Chinhoyi University of Technology, Lord Malvern High School students: Monectress Chizikani, Shyleen Kachembere and Princess Kanengoni.

Chegutu chess sensation Colletah Wakuruwarehwa who finished National Ladies Championship 2011 with a perfect score of 9/9 in August also embraced the event. Veteran players Rhoda Masiyazi, Bridget Murandu-Pumuyo player cum farmer and Mrs Febby Chidzvova a teacher at Kuwadzana High school also took part. A grade six student Tanya Maguwu was the youngest player: Lastly Linah Nyakunya, Tarmaine Chizikani, Fungirayiini Chiweshe and Blessing Chinake also participated

The tournament organizers -Fungirayiini Chiweshe and Tarmaine Chizikani.

Fungirayiini and Tarmaine organized the event & described it as a success despite their main sponsor pulling out in the last minute. Fungirayiini Chiweshe a BSC Engineer employed with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe could not finish the tournament as she was called for duty to attend to a critical fault on a base station at work hence getting walkovers from her last three games.

Tarmaine Chizikani is the current UZ Ladies Chess team Captain. The tournament arbiters were Farirai Gumbe aka Figu/Figo and Fungai Mudziki aka Kasparov. Fungai Mudziki is the UZ Chess Captain and an aspiring chess theoretician. He recently developed a system in the Caro-Kahn defence he named T-Virus Variation. Farirai Gumbe is training chess in schools through his ZIMMATE chess project.

It’s also interesting to note that Tarmaine and Monectress Chizikani are daughters to the former Zimbabwe Chess Federation official & Lawyer Mr. Augustine R. Chizikani.

Tatenda Melissa Zengeni who is popularly known as Polgar Tasty was the sole winner of the tournament with a score of 5/6 points. She lost to the Chegutu girl Colletah in round two who went on to suffer 2 defeats, one to Janice in round 3 and in round five to Paidaishe who was probably revenging for her sister Tatenda. The tournament proved to be tough for veteran chess ladies like Febby, Bridget and Rhoda. Six players scored 4/6 and tied on the 2nd position. Six more players were also tied on three points and two players scored 2 points and finally Fungirayiini scored 1 point out of three games she played was walked over for the rest of the round.

University of Zimbabwe Ladies Open Chess Tournament Final Results Table

Tanya Maguwu the youngest player.

Janice Lerato Mothabi, with 4/6 points in second place.

Paidaishe Zengeni scored 4/6 points, in 4th place according to bucholtz.

Princess Kanengoni of Lord Malvern High School.

Fungai Mudziki the arbiter explaining some moves to Shyleen.

The organizers fighting it out in 3rd round and the result is 1-0

FIGO following some games.

A number of Chess players came to support the ladies and among them were UZ students Tatenda Ganha, Dread and also yours truly. We had fun and ladies need assistance to improve their playing strength. They feel that they are not well represented in the ZCF so a Ladies Chess Association is on the cards and this tournament was just an eye opener.

Tribbie Tapiwanashe Motsi is the Marketing Executive of Chess Corner Africa. An active organization in the development of Chess in Africa and a leading chess equipment supplier!