Chess body selects schools tour squad
Daniel Nhakaniso, Sports Reporter
2012-02-06 09:01:00
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation has selected a 12-member provisional squad which will represent the country at the 8th World Schools Individual Chess Championships slated for Romania in April.
The 2012 World School Individual Chess Championships will be held in Iasi, Romania, from April 27 to May 7 and will be open to young chess players in the Under-7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 age groups.
The squad comprises nine boys and three girls. The boys’ team is made up of Collins Mabodongwa, Tinotenda Chingonzo, Kudzai Mhandu, Blessing Mhike, Shaun Chigogora, Alpha Chaendera, Vincent Mabodongwa, Takesure Madzongwe and Masimba Kamwendo.
The girls’ squad is composed of Tanaka Pawandiwa, Hazvinei Kamwendo and Panashe Kunje. The players’ participation at the World Schools Championship, however, hinges on their ability to pay the participation fee.
Accommodation and travel expenses are expected to be covered by the participants’ federations, schools or their sponsors.
Those who are unable to fulfil this requirement will not be permitted to participate and will most likely be replaced by players with the financial means to do so.
The players are, therefore, in a race against time to beat the registration deadline which is set for February 21.
Members of the provisional squad are expected to go into camp the first week of March before departing for Romania five days before the start of the championships.
Organisers of the Zimbabwe Open Chess International Tournament which ended early last month have hailed the event and described it as a success.
Last month the Zimbabwe Chess Federation hosted the Zimbabwe Open Chess Tournament which not only attracted local stars but those from the region.
The tournament had 195 players from the country and the Southern Africa region.
Source: http://www.newsday.co.zw
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