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Kezzie

Who is The President of Malawi Chess Federation – Interview

by Ogunsiku Babatunde December 12, 2018

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

Just a few weeks before the Batumi Chess Olympiad 2018, the elections for the position of leadership of the Malawi Chess Federation held and produced a powerful woman to lead the federation in the process. Here is our interview with Mrs Susan Namangale. Do enjoy and do not forget to ask your questions at the end of the interview (we will be sure to get them across to her and the response back to you).

Hello Ma’am, can we get to know you?

I was born Susan Musa Kakota, but my family name is now Susan Namangale, as I am married. Born in a family of eight (8), of which 7 were girls and I am the 6^th of the lot. I am married with three boys who also play Chess. I hold an MBA from Indira Ghandi University and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Malawi. I work as an Environmental and Social Specialist in projects and currently on a short term Contract with the World Bank Group.

Susan Namangale at the Batumi Chess Olympiad: Photo Credit – Jacinta A. Odongo

How did you meet chess?

The only sport I have passionately been involved in as I was growing up, was Chess. I started learning and playing chess during holidays when I was in primary school, as my elder sisters Gladys and Tasokwa, who were at Girls Secondary Schools at the time, brought home a chess board and talked a lot about the game of Chess. I was going to a primary school at the village and none of my friends knew chess, and I had to wait for my sisters to close school so we can play Chess. And when I was selected to Providence Girls Secondary School, I found an inactive chess club with few chess players.

Our Chess patron encouraged us and I played with him a lot until I mastered the game and started checkmating my teacher. He was a Mathematics teacher too and my mathematical solving skills improved greatly as a result.

I remember sacrificing my little pocket money (sent by my sister from her bursary fund) to buy a Chess board so as to increase the number of chess players at my school. I ended up developing much interest in the game than my two sisters who introduced it to me. And this passion lives on to today.

What was your motivation to sponsor and want to get involved in chess management?

I have always wanted to see Chess improving in Malawi. I have always wanted to see a lot of ladies playing chess. I always wanted to see chess being played in many schools in Malawi, and this motivated me such that whenever I could manage to, I would put aside some resources for Chess in whatever little way. When Kezzie announced that he would be retiring as president of the federation, I knew there would be a gap and did not want to see all the effort move into the drain, therefore I decided to take up the Management role and move forward to lead Chess Association of Malawi.

Susan Namangale seated with leaders of federations at the Fide Congress in Batumi: Photo Credit – Jacinta A. Odongo

What is your view about chess politics?

I did not think Chess Politics is this complex until this year when I was part of it. I think Chess Politics is tough and it needs strong minds to survive it, which is evident in my push for the leadership role in Malawi, and those who have been elected into various positions of leadership this year, including the new FIDE president.

Malawi has produced the first female federation president in the whole of Africa, what made you run for the position?

As I have stated above, it is my passion for the game of Chess that motivated me to take up this position. I just had to do it for the love of the game and to ensure Chess in Malawi progresses. I am proud to be the first female Chess President in Malawi and currently the only female federation president in Africa. I owe it to the Malawi team that believed in my capabilities irrespective of gender.

You were at the Batumi Chess Olympiad this year. Was it your first? How would you rate it?

Yes, it was my first and I thought it was not that bad from what I have heard about previous ones. It was my first time to be at this part of Europe and there was much to see and learn from the host country. I met all the wonderful Chess friends that I needed to meet and that was enough to instill positivity in me, besides I am a chess player and I like positive thoughts.

Susan Namangale with the Captain of the Malawi Female Team taking the Fide Seminar for International Chess Organizers: Photo Credit – Ogunsiku Babatunde

Africa won 2 category Gold Medals at the Olympiad (Sudan in Group E and Egypt in Group B). what do you think Africa needs to do to ensure that we challenge for the top spot at the next Olympiad?

This was a milestone for Africa and a motivation that Africa is capable of getting to the top. African countries should work together to develop Chess in Africa. The leaders should be selfless and move forward agendas and strategies that will develop chess in the Africa, in doing this, Africa would move forward.

The mantle of leadership was passed down to you from a vastly experienced and joyful man in Mr Kezzie, how important was he in your winning the elections in Malawi?

Well, I would say I supported Kezzie a lot in his role as former president, to move Chess forward and his support for me was obvious, as it was in his interest to leave Chess in good hands otherwise, his efforts would have been in vain. Kezzie played an important role to make Chess what it is now in Malawi and I am taking it from where he left.

Malawi’s Top Guns! Current ACC Secretary General (Mr Kezzie) and Mrs Susan Namangale: Photo Credit – Jacinta A. Odongo

Can you highlight for us the plans you have for chess in Malawi?

The key thing is that my plans for Chess in Malawi are BIG. I plan to make Chess a very popular sport in Malawi and ensure Chess is played in all schools in Malawi, so as to tap into the grassroots potential. I plan to increase visibility for the Chess Institution in Malawi and gain Corporate trust and support. I plan for sustainable programs by the institution to be able to develop the game of Chess. I plan to be consultative and tap into the player/administrator ideas to develop the game of Chess in Malawi.

Malawi plays host to the Africa U-16 Team Chess Championship in December. What are the plans being put in place to ensure that the kids from various countries coming to Malawi would have an awesome time?

We were on track with planning for this tournament, until we received a letter from ACC to cancel the Tournament. It was unfortunate; however, we had no choice as a tournament of this magnitude required significant resources and we were not prepared to host without the backing of the confederation.

Would Malawi be planning to bid for any other continental event in the coming years?

Yes, we are considering a bid for one of the African Junior Tournaments in 2019, which we are yet to make a decision on the specifics. But 2021 will also be a big year for us to hopefully put together an African Open tournament.

Susan Namangale at the Batumi Chess Olympiad: Photo Credit – Jacinta A. Odongo

As regards Africa chess and sponsorship, what do you think we need to do to get sponsors within Africa to support our events?

We need to engage more with the Corporate World for them to understand that Chess is not just a game but also a tool for Education, development and a life changing skill. We need to build trust so that we can be supported. We need to increase visibility for Chess in Africa and ensure our events are more publicized.

What is your view on the importance of media in chess?

The media is key to increase the visibility that I am talking about. Without the media, no one would know Chess exists. The media is a medium between the Corporate World and the Chess industry. They are key to ensuring the existence of a relationship between the corporate World and Chess. I have a lot of respect for the Media, as they will help me progress my agenda and move Chess to where it should be.

A word for the young person out there reading and getting inspired by this interview?

Chess is a great mind game. It makes you think and analyze alternate solutions, it makes you push on in the midst of challenges, it makes you believe in yourself and raise your self esteem, it makes you push for results and not get satisfied with status quo. Chess makes one avoid the crowd and think independently. Young people around the world should consider playing Chess, which would help become responsible citizens and brilliant at what you do in the community in the future. Parents should encourage and provide resources for young people to engage in Chess games, because it will surely make a difference in their life.

‘Chess like Music and Love has the power to make people happy” Siegbert Tarrasch said

And there you have it folks, directly from the writing of the only female federation president in Africa. What say you?

December 12, 2018 1 comment

My Country’s First Grandmaster Experience

by khisho February 16, 2018

written by khisho

The author , Makhosi Makhisho Nyirenda is Malawi Chess Federation Publicity Secretary, Chess writer and Chess Coach.

We sat in the mini- hall looking like a bunch of unruly students awaiting a punishment from the headmaster as we waited for the Grandmaster- a title we all treated with reverence and trepidation.

With the boards already set on the wooden tables in a semicircular pattern, the mini-hall looked spic and span, and was nicely decorated with good wall pictures. The figure “12’’ on one of the wall pictures reminded me that Malawi was in her 12^th year of democracy. Before the dawn of democracy, Malawi had close to 30 years of subjection to her first leader, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who was called “The Ngwazi”, a title that can literally translate to Chief or, in some common slang, “Grandmaster”. So, subconsciously, Malawians were programmed to revere the Grandmaster title.

Malawi’s first interaction with the outside chess world had only been a year earlier, in 2005, when we dispatched a team of 3 athletes to the Africa Individual Chess Championship in Lusaka, Zambia. So, given how behind we were in the chess evolution chronometer, it was quite an hilarious news that a Chess “Ngwazi” was visiting our country in 2006.

Nobody, save the 3 that had represented us in Zambia, who told us the tale of the likes of African Grandmasters like Slim Belkodja, Ahmed Adly e.t.c, had ever seen a Grandmaster! Though they may have exaggerated the tale, anyway, by adding things like: “Last game I played a grandmaster, he was very big and bald headed” – really? How can one play a grandmaster on the last board in last round? They made sure it should sound they lost to aliens. But thanks to the then Malawi Chess President, Monsieur Kezzie Msukwa, whose links helped facilitate this special Grandmaster visit. At least now we would know how a Grandmaster looks and play like.

https://francisdande.blogspot.com

Nobody was even rated then, so people could just call themselves masters for winning some local tournament. So, when British Grandmaster Nigel Short landed in the warm heart of Africa in April 2006, it was big news. What was even making it big news was that: one person will be playing simultaneously with so many people. To many, it was a case of “It cannot be done!

Top Nation Newspaper Sports Journalist, Leonard Sharra, also a top chess player, even featured it in his popular column “My Prediction”, where he predicted that the grandmaster will lose one game -to him.

The players in the mini-hall were really excited. They goaded about their preparation for the game as they blitzed over on the extra boards.

“22 boards is too much for him, he won’t be able to concentrate, he will have a night- mare”, shouted one player amidst the noise in the mini-hall.

“Now a player of my level has come, it’s gonna be a death game”, also commented one player.

This other top player, who had had a string of bad tournament results, wanted to use this exhibition as an opportunity to sanctify himself.

“You know what? When you play weaker players, your standard of play goes down. You will see, I will knock down this grandmaster,” he said while going for a bottle of water.

Suddenly, we saw the Chessam President and a tall white man enter the mini-hall.

“Hush! It’s him. Nigel Short”, whispered this other guy, sounding like he is his personal friend.

When the Grandmaster entered the hall, he gave the following gestures: he smiled at us, looked across the room as if searching for a familiar face, then looked at his watch as the president pleaded for order in the room, but there was already order.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is Grandmaster Nigel Short from Britain”. There was a round of applause from the audience, before the president turned to Nigel Short and said. “Grandmaster, In front of you are the best chess players in Lilongwe. Over to you Grandmaster”

“Ok. Are we ready? So I will be white in all the games”, said the Grandmaster as he advanced towards the first board with his red neck-tie propelling from side to side.

Then somebody interrupted him by saying “By the way, that is board one”, pointing at a board opposite to where the Grandmaster was going.

A surprised Short rotated his head and responded in queen’s accent “It’s ok. I always go anticlockwise”. So he played his first move on what was supposed to be the last board.

He greeted each player, one by one, as he thudded the e4 pawn on the plastic chess boards to all the 22 players.

Alas! He was very fast. He revolved round and round the 22 player panel without any serious stop overs, well it was only the opening phase .But suddenly the master got transfixed at one board. Akim Mwale, the doyen of Malawi’s chess had given the Grandmaster a puzzle.

“What’s going on there?”, there was a buzz of interest across the room as the grandmaster scratched his lips as he thought for his move in front of the sporadic grizzly Malawi chess giant in a brazier jacket .

‘’It’s a sac! It’s a sac!” There were sporadic whispers across the room. Akim Mwale brandished his thumb towards the other players, as the grandmaster refused the dangerous Knight sacrifice. There was a loud cheer in the room as the grandmaster moved to his next opponent.

Then he was incredibly fast again, rotating around the 22 player panel like nothing. Each of the bent heads, seemed to be occupied with their own problems, some redeemable, some not.

Each time the grandmaster went to the board opposite mine, he would go “Check!” it was a case of King trapped in the middle. The player on that board, Fishern Mwagomba, had the tendency of putting his King in the middle of the board for terribly long. Though he usually walked away with this when playing homies, it was clear today was his punishment day.

Suddenly there was the first death of the exhibition. Somebody had been killed in 8 moves!

The grandmaster laughed as he shook hands with the first victim of the “Nigel fire”.

On most of the boards, the Briton seemed to have recolonized us for real.

There will always be unruly players in the mix of chess players, as somebody cheated by re-fielding a captured piece, but still lost.

There were now only 8 players remaining, and the then budding star , Joseph Mwale was one of them. He seemed to be okay, until the Grandmaster taught him the use of a King as a fighting piece.The Grandmaster’s King managed to capture Mwale’s Knight, Rook and Bishop, before executing the painful checkmate.

Suddenly, another long pause for the “Ngwazi”. This one seemed to be more serious than the first one. Somebody had captured his Queen. Leornard Sharra! A Queen for 3 minor pieces.

“Now the grandmaster is dying”, whispered one guy. But the grandmaster played the game so instructively and won, teaching us how to nullify the powers of a Queen.

“This man is a machine!” shouted the board 2 player, Malama Mwanza, as he dropped down his King.

The board one player , Alfred Chimthere angered the Grandmaster when he continued playing with a rook down.

“Aah! What do you want to achieve now? You are a Rook down”, said the Grandmaster as he sat down after 4 hours of parambulating around 22 boards.

Well, perhaps being the national champion Chimthere, The Great Finisher, wanted to make sure he was the last man standing.

We were walloped 22-0, and the following morning the story in the newspaper was “Grandmaster Conquers All”. The news was all over TV, radio and newpapers. Then the grandmaster embarked on a journey to Southern Malawi, where most of the top players lived.

We were mocked left, right and center in the city.

In the Southern region people were like ,” There are amateurs in Lilongwe , we will deal with him in Blantyre.”

All the top players, including the previous national Champion Kajani Kaunda, James kamowa, Douglas Kamwendo and the Razorblade were there

There was drama when one player cheated by resetting the board to a position that showed he was at a huge advantage. In his heart of hearts he was like : “He will not see. He’s got too many boards to concentrate on”

But when the Grandmaster came to this board, he quickly found out that the guy had cheated, and set the position the way it was supposed to be. People were astonished.

“How the hell did he remember that?”

Razorblade recounts his game against the Grandmaster excellently. He says:

“I had studied the line of one of the games of the 1992 World Championship match between Nigel Short and Garry Kasparov . It was obvious that Nigel was unware of my preparation, until deep in the middle game I played the exact novelty that Kasparov played in 1992. He looked me straight in the eyes, and avoided the response he made in 1992”

At the end of the day the grandmaster won 21.5 to 0.5, with one draw coming from former Malawi’s Champion, Kajani Kaunda.

Image Courtesy of Daily Times Malawi.

The following morning the newspaper carried the title “Kajani Kaunda holds Grandmaster”. The former National Champion was greatly revered for this feat.

We continue to revere the Grandmaster title till date, as we also continue to press forward to getting our first Grandmaster in Malawi.

What is your Grandmaster Story?

February 16, 2018 7 comments