Top players out of Bulawayo Heroes chess tournament

August 11, 2018

Top players out of Bulawayo Heroes chess tournament

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
TOP Bulawayo chess players left for a national tournament in Harare yesterday and will miss the sixth edition of the Bulawayo Chess Association’s (BCA) Heroes Open set for Monday at Mpopoma High School.

The city’s top-ranked players Tapiwa Jele of Nkulumane Chess Club, the Nust Chess Club duo of Kudakwashe and Castro Sibanda as well as former national champion Dion Moyo will compete at the National Championships and National Candidates Selection tournaments, which started yesterday and ends on Tuesday in Harare.

Regular BCA championships participants Tarsisio Chikandi and Benson Chinodyanama of ZRP Bulawayo, Farai Janyure from ZRP Plumtree, Bulawayo Chess Club’s pair of Russell Dzete and Thabang Moyo and Phakamani Sithole of Nkulumane are expected to raise Bulawayo’s flag high at the national competitions.

The absence of top players from the tournament presents unheralded players with an opportunity to win a major title and put themselves in contention for the end of year Bulawayo Candidates tournament for the top 10 players, including those who won BCA organised competitions during the year.

Players expected to capitalise on the absence of the stars include Spencer Moyo of Filabusi Chess Club, Nust’s Nigel Mabiza, the Bulawayo Polytechnic pair of Maxwell Masare and Ayanda Ndlovu as well as youngster Mlungisi Mafu.

Moses Mutipforo, BCA spokesperson, said they are targeting 200 participants for the Mpopoma Heroes Tournament, with the majority being primary and secondary school participants.

“Registration is open with fees set at $2.30 for primary school players, $3.30 for secondary school participants and $5.30 for open and ladies sections.

“All players interested can send EcoCash payments to the BCA director of registrations on +263778588468.

“It is our hope that the development categories, the primary and secondary school participants will come in their numbers so that they continue to develop their skills in competitive environments,” said Mutipforo. — @ZililoR