Chess team unveiled
Posted in Sport on February 29, 2016
MATHEWS KABAMBA, Lusaka
TEN chess players have made the 2016 national team and will represent Zambia at the Baku World Olympiads in Baku, Azerbaijan, in August.
The team comprises five men and five women that performed to expectation during the national trials in Mansa.
The men’s team has Fide Master (FM) Andrew Kayonde, International Masters (IM) Richmond Phiri, Daniel Jere, Chitumbo Mwali and Kelvin Chumfwa.
Woman Fide Master Lorita Mwango, Candidate Master (CM) Linda Haamonga, Constance Mbatha, Kabamba Mulwale and Lubuto Bwalya make up the women’s team.
Kayonde triumphed with 6.5 points, second-placed Phiri and third finisher Daniel Jere also managed 6.5 points but had weaker tie breakers after nine rounds.
Mwali finished fourth with 4.5 points, a point better than Chumfwa.
In the women’s category, Mwango garnered eight points while second-placed Haamonga had 7.5 points.
Mbatha finished third with seven points with Mulwale and Bwalya trailing in fourth and fifth positions with 6.5 and 5.5 points respectively.
The top three players in the men’s section pocketed K 4,178 each while Mwango received K 4,000 and Haamonga got K 1,500.
And Chess Federation of Zambia general secretary Chanda Nsakanya is confident the team will reap medals at the Olympiads.
“The selection process was very competitive especially in the open section, the player really put up a good show. The ladies as well were very interesting. This is a strong team and we hope to do better than before,” Nsakanya said.
Source: https://www.daily-mail.co.zm
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