Chess star Mwango wins silver medal
October 9, 2012
By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZAMBIA chess star Lorita Mwango won silver after finishing second at the 2012 Africa Junior Chess Championships that came to a close in South Africa on Sunday.
Mwango, now a FIDE Master (FM), saw off challenge from South Africa’s Lillian Chen to ensure that she finished second with 6.5 points from the nine-rounds played.
Going into the final round tied on 5.5 points with two other players, Mwango knew that she only needed to win her game to stay a tab ahead of the chasing pair, whom she only edged in view of a better tie breaker in form on better rating.
Mwango, playing black, defied the advantage her opponent had of having to be the first player to move a piece on board two to check-mate Chen and win the silver.
Eventual winner of the combined Under-16 and 18 girls’ category, Shrook Wafa of Egypt confirmed her high pre-tournament rating by winning her last game against Jacqui Grobbelaar of South Africa to finish with 8.5 points from the possible nine.
In winning the African junior title, International Maters (IM) Wafa, whose only shared point was in a draw against fellow Egyptian Ayah Moaataz, got herself a second Grand Master norm.
The other Zambians at the competition Jonathan Thomas and Sekelani Tembo won and drew their matches in the boys’ Under-12 and boys’ Under-14 categories respectively.
Thomans, who has had an impressive tournament, won his last game against Reginald Sibanda of Botswana to finish third at the competition with an impressive six points, though it was three off eventual winner Adam Fawzy of Egypt.
The Egyptian Fawzy who is already a FIDE Master had a perfect nine points from the tournament.
Source: http://www.times.co.zm
A beauty queen.