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Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
THE Chess Association of Matabeleland North (CAMN) held an end of year provincial championship where 44 professionals and junior amateurs sized each other in Hwange at the weekend.

Albert Chiroodza, a pupil at Megawatt Primary School in Hwange, outsmarted 31 contestants to win the juniors’ category.

Chiroodza scored 4.5 points, the same points with schoolmate Blessed Kunzi, who came second.

Usher Mathe from Thomas Coulter Primary emerged third with four points.

In the junior girls’ category, it was a Thomas Coulter Primary affair, with Buhlebenkosi Ncube coming out tops with four points, beating Angel Ngwenya and Upanayanda Dimbira with three points each.

CAMN chairperson Kripo Chivhenge won the open category with 629.5 points followed by Sidingilizwe Ndiweni of Dete Chess Club with 627.5 points.

Brian Chinyanga of GK Chess Club scored 527.5 points, while Hwange Chess Club’s Romeo Ncube and Stanley Mukwenje scored 424.5 and 424 points respectively.

Chivhenge said the tournament was aimed at reviving chess in the province as well as bringing players together.

“We were trying to bring all our best players in Matabeleland North together as this was the last tourney of the year. We invited an arbiter Moses Mutipforo from Bulawayo to oversee the tournament,” said Chivhenge.

He said the province had been inactive in chess until it was revived this year.

“CAMN became active this year and this was the fifth tournament we have held. As a province we now rate competitively against other provinces, as there have been major improvements,” he said.

He said CAMN’s goal for 2018 was to develop junior talent and compete in national events.

@ncubeleon