THE YOUNG GNKCA SILVER KNIGHTS DIDN’T DISAPPOINT AT THE ST JOHN’S COLLEGE FESTIVAL 2014

The top class High School tournament held at St John’s College in Borrowdale Harare was won by Goromonzi High with 4.5/5 followed by Prince Edward also with 4.5/5 but had lower total board points. Goromonzi High led by Gwezere on board 1 are proving to be invincible in these Chess Festivals. They also lifted the last Festival shield Prince Edward Chess Festival 2013 this time led by the brilliant Van Madani on board 1 who has wrote his A Levels in 2013. When GNKCA won The Churchill Festival in June 2013 led by the man ‘made of steel’ Zhemba Jemusse on board 1 the Goromonzi boys didn’t participate. Also when The GNKCA Silver Knights were tied 1st with Gokomere High in the Gokomere Festival in 2013 the Goromonzi team missed the event. Does this mean Goromonzi will lift every tournament Shield in an event they participate in? We shall see in this 2014 season.

This time for the first time in a Schools Chess Festival GNKCA were without the man ‘made of steel’ Zhemba Jemusse, and it proved costly as the Knights lost their crucial last round match on table 1 to PE by 2.5-1.5. GNKCA was led by 15 year old Vincent Mabodongwa and PE led by the deadly Chess maestro Lawrence Tavagwisa. When Goromonzi and PE met they drew 2-2 in the 3rd round.

The young GNKCA Silver Knights: Vincent Mabodongwa (15), Collins Mabodongwa (11), Kudzai Mhandu (11) and Onias Nyambuya (15) didn’t disappoint at the St John’s College Festival as they made a fine run in their 5 rounds.

On Table 1 last Rnd (Rnd 5) GNKCA vs Prince Edward. GNKCA lost by 2.5-1.5 & PE, Goromonzi were tied 1st with 4.5 pts. In the 1st round GNKCA drew ST Ignatius 2-2. It was another truce 2-2 with Mazowe High in round 2. In the 3rd round GNKCA beat Westridge 4-0, in the 4th round GNKCA pipped Musengezi High 2.5-1.5. Kudzai Mhandu of GNKCA won the BEST BOARD 3 PRIZE OVERAL with a brilliant 4.5/5. Lawrence Tavagwisa of Prince Edward won the BEST BOARD 1 PRIZE OVERALL with a splendid 5/5.

The Junior Section of the tournament was won by Mazowe High followed by CBC from Bulawayo. Our 2ND team of GNKCA took part in the Junior Section and did well.

St John’s Festival Jnr Sec Rnd 2: GNKCA vs St John’s College and We won 4-0 anchored by our 8 yr old wonder girl Rumbidzai Mawire on bd 4. Earlier in 1st rnd giants Christian Brothers College (CBC) frm Byo had hammered GNKCA 4-0. In 3rd rnd Goromonzi clobbered us 3-1. We shared the cake 2-2 with St John’s Emerald Hill in 4th rnd. In the 5th rnd Westridge was humiliated 4-0 by the Young Knights. Well done Young Silver Knights!