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Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Chess Association continues with their ambitious schools development programme, with Gifford High School set to play host to a tournament dubbed “Gifford Congress” today.

At least 180 players from about 16 schools are expected to take to the board, two weeks after a similar tournament was held at Mzilikazi.

They will compete in four categories; senior girls, junior girls, senior boys and junior boys.

Moses Mutipforo, BCA’s tournaments director and today’s competition’s chief arbiter said schools that have confirmed include Northlea, Milton, Christian Brothers College (CBC), Founders, Montrose, Sizane, Mandwandwe, Mpopoma, Mzilikazi and the hosts, Gifford.

They’re also expecting Tsholotsho’s Mate who won the junior girls’ shield at the Mzilikazi Festival.

“BCA are providing clocks, chess sets and expertise in ensuring a smooth tournament. We had 161 participants at the Mzilikazi festival and we expect about 180 pupils to attend the Gifford Congress,” said Mutipforo.

Gifford, who dominated the Mzilikazi Festival after winning the boys’ junior and senior titles go into today’s tournament as favourites and will pin their hopes on Jimius Ndebele, Jaggerson Mlilo, Nyasha Maworere, Predecessor Mashoko and Pride Ngulube.

The country’s best Under-17 player Anotida Kufakunesu will lead Christian Brothers College team alongside Ebenezer Madamba.

Sandisiwe Sibanda of Mate who was one of the outstanding participants in the junior girls’ competition at Mzilikazi is expected to face stiff competition from the likes of Montrose’s Tsepo Ndebele, Mate’s Samkeliso Ndebele and Thabani Ncube of Mandwandwe.

In the senior girls’ category, Mpopoma’s duo of Faith Ncube and Charlene Mguni, Nomagugu Ndlovu of Mzilikazi and Northlea’s Nobesuthu Ndlovu are title favourites.