By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZAMBIA’s representatives at the ongoing World Youth Chess Championships had a stuttering start to the games being played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
10-year-old Hampus Sorensen lost his third round match to Ahmet Utku Uzumcu of Turkey while Jonathan Thomas managed a draw against Nyasha Katsande of Wales.
Though Thomas enjoyed a better round, the draw gave him only his first point of the tournament after he lost the opening two matches to Minh Hoang Le of Vietnam and then Mark Yasser of Egypt.
On the other hand, Hampus’ loss was the first bitter taste he came across at the tournament having won and drawn in the first two matches to sit in the middle of the table with 1.5 points.
In the first round, Sorensen beat Chin Chon Li of Macedonia to get a perfect start and in the second round drew against Ahmad Samir Ahmadzada of Azerbaijan for his 1.5 points.
And in the fourth round which was being played by press time, Thomas was up against Erwin Liebert of Estonia while Hampus was trying his wits against Augustas Gucaga of Lithuania.
The other Zambian representative, Alva Sorensen, the twin sister to Hampus is conspicuously not involved in the games.
The 11-round tournament will run until Sunday next week.
Source: http://www.times.co.zm
They’ll bounce back.