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Sports Reporter
PHAKAMANI Sithole of Nkulumane Chess Club won the 2017 edition of the Bulawayo Candidates Tournament at Founders High School to book a ticket in next month’s Bulawayo Championship.

The Bulawayo Chess Association (BCA) Championship Tournament will feature the province’s top 10 players.

Sithole got 6.5 points out of seven in Saturday’s tournament that drew 71 players.

Sithole will join Bulawayo Championship title holder Ntokozo Mangena, Nkulumane Chess Club’s trio of Tapiwa Jele; Khumbulani Chirwa and Valentine Nkoma; the Nust duo of Kudakwashe Sibanda and Castro Sibanda as well as the ZRP Bulawayo trio of Sifiso Ncube, Tarcision Chikandi and Mthokozisi Mpofu, who had already qualified.

BCA chairman Elvis Shora was happy with the level of competition and believes the Bulawayo Championship will be explosive.

“Competition at the Bulawayo Candidates Tournament was tight and with one round to go, it was clear that four other players besides Sithole were in serious contention. The four were Ronald Chimanzi of Nust Chess Club, ZRP Bulawayo Chess Club duo of Patrice Sibanda and Maxwel Masare and Filabusi Chess Club star Spencer Moyo,” said Shora.

“All these four occupied the top three boards in the final round to decide the winner. As it turned out, Sithole proved that his victory at the Africa Day Open on May 25 was not a fluke as he delivered yet another checkmate to win the tournament.”

Sibanda was first runner-up, while Moyo was second runner-up.

Meanwhile, Leeroy Mpala of Camelot Chess Club garnered five points out of seven points to win the consolation prize of best scholar, while Nadia Gezani of Vinic Chess Club was best the female scholar with two out of seven.

Eight-year-old Quinton Maphosa of Allan Redfern Chess Club posted a perfect score of five out of five to clinch the best development player prize. Hazel Kachikwa of Willenita Chess Club also impressed with some brilliant moves to claim second place.