The Young Chess Masters Individual Chess Tournament held on Saturday the 25th of February 2017 was the Year Opening Individual Tournament….
The very successful tournament’s aim was to enable young chess players to battle it out with their counterparts in the process effectively developing chess and as well as having serious fun. It was also a warm up event enabling youngsters to prepare for continental and international qualifiers. Again we say thank you to all those who took part.
There were four main sections in this Young Chess Masters big contest held in the new superb Avonlea Primary School Hall in Mabelreign Harare (near Greencroft Shops). The MASTERS Section had 10 top youngsters with Woman Candidate Master Rumbidzai Mawire of Avondale Primary being the top seed. There was also the U12 Boys section which saw 80 tough boys compating on the 64 square boards. The younger boys i.e U8/U10 had their own section with 61 young chess wizards engaged in the warfare of the mind. The forth section comprised of all girls i.e U12/U10/U8 and a good 60 young girls had to hassle and tussle for top prizes in their respective sections. All in all a good +200 players came from all areas in Harare and other provinces of Zimbabwe to battle and showcase their talent. Indeed the future is bright for our Zim youngsters as we saw determination, dedication, brilliance, passion as well as will power all enshrined in the games.
Goldridge Primary from the Midlands Province made the long journey to Harare with 20 players thanks to the passionate hearts of the T.I.Cs Mr Wilfred Sithole and Mrs Knight. Well done guys keep it up! Bryden Primary from Chegutu Mash West, Godfrey Huggins Primary and Marondera Lendy Park Primary all from Marondera also took part. Not forgeting Mupfurudzi Primary the school with the man who has chess at heart Mr Muzorori. They produced a talented and tough girl Panashe Zimbili. Well done guys! Shamva Primary was also there at the tournament. Both Shamva and Mupfurudzi are from Mash Central Province.
In the Masters Section WCM Rumbidzai Mawire won with a 100% performance with 4/4. She beat Anotida Chiutsi of Avondale Pri, Cashel Chabvamuperu of Alfred Beit, Tawananyasha Mawire of Avondale Pri and Anashe Murinda Alfred Beit. Anashe Murinda a fast improving and solid girl player of Alfred Beit who came second in this Masters Section only lost to Rumbidzai. Anashe beat Nyarai Muponda of Tomlison, Tinaye Madamombe of Marondera Lendy Park and Tinashe Chirambanegomo.
The most exciting match in this Masters section was a game Tawananyasha Mawire of Avondale Pri vs Tadiwa Madaka the child chess bully of Alfred Beit Pri. It was a good game for Tawana who was on the white side of Ruy Lopez – Steinitz Defense. Tawana’s very aggressive play coupled with his very powerful Bishop pair well positioned in an Italian attacking style, all pointing at the enemy King’s home. Supporting these were his Rook and Queen..their strong deep in the middle game positioning on the King side, as well as Tadiwa’s move 20….g6? a defensive error was enough to cause mayhem and the main upset of the day.
The overal section winners were as follows: (After 5 Rnds except in the Masters were 4 Rnds were played)
U8 Girls
1. Anotida Madamombe, Marondera Lendy Park Pri (3/5)
2. Sasha Ndemera
3. Angeline Mutsvangwa
U8 Boys
1. Tafadzwa Banda, Alfred Beit Pri (4/5)
2. lionel Mapepa
3. Lewis Munyoro
U10 Girls
1. Nenyasha Gombwiro, Shamva Pri (3/5)
2. Memory Mutare
3. Mia Mandebvu
U10 Boys
1. Taropafadzwa Kodogo, Hallingbury Pri (5/5)
2. Thandazani Mushore
3. Kunashe Muzorori
U 12 Boys
1. Anesu Mazhara, Brayden Pri (5/5)
2. Michael Mpondi
3. Eugine Vilika
U12 Girls
1. Marcylin Madzinga, Mupfurudzi Pri (4.5/5)
2. Rudaviro Dzenga
3. Trish Katambarare
MASTERS SECTION
1. Rumbidzai Mawire, Avondale Pri (4/4)
2. Anashe Murinda
3. Tadiwa Madaka ***Special Prize*** And the Youngest Player to win a Game was 5 year old Natasha Chitauro of David Livingstone Pri. *****PRIZES at the event included: Special Chess Trophies, Chess Mugs, Chess Books, Chess Key Rings….
