Zim Men 0.5 – 3.5 Cuba
Zim Ladies 1.5 – 2.5 Morocco
A tough day in the office for team Zim in round 8 of the Batumi Georgia Olympiad…
WCM Kudzanayi Charinda (1718) lost her game on the top board facing WIM Sbai Rania (1893), and on board 2 the battle was also not favorable for Zim as well as Colletta Wakuruwarewa (1577) also lost to Moroccan Firdaous Mayar (1797). These were the decisive boards. Kudzanayi has played all 8 games so far in the Olympiad event and has won 3 games on the top board. Colletta has garnered 1.5pts out of 6 games she has played. Zimbabwe went on to collect 1.5 points in the lower boards, WCM Paidaishe Zengeni (1528) winning amazingly on board 4 vs Khadija Ibrahimi (1531). It was the Zim WCM’s 2nd point she collected out of the 6 games she has played so far. So it was a sweet victory indeed! The 3rd board was a fine truce Zim’s Nomalungelo Mathe (1577) playing against WFM Chaimaa Alaoui. It was Noma’s 2.5th point out of her 5 games she has played..a 50% performance so far. The lady who was resting in the Morocco showdown Christine Makwena who is the current Zim Ladies National champ has overally played 7 games collecting 3pts. As a team the ladies have won 3 games out of 8 matches they have played so far..a tough and rough field indeed! All the best in the next rounds..!
In the Open section Zim Men were beaten by a charged Cuban team with 4 Grandmasters! Zim’s IM Makoto on board 1 managed to get a draw…a brave show indeed..!
