WCM Mawire Rumbidzai wins in Botswana

The Easter weekend has always been ideal for chess tournaments. The longest weekend on the calendar has had many congregate around their places of worship and most chess enthusiasts prefer being in tournament halls ministered to by a large gathering of Bishop cardinals presiding over chessboards. Both sides.

Woman Candidate Master Rumbidzai Mawire of Zimbabwe was also one of these chess enthusiasts, a staunch member of the Young Chess Masters chess club, she was victorious at the just ended Easter Open Chess tournament which was hosted by Francis Town School of Chess.
The form one Learner at Dominican Convent High School Harare came dressed in her best form to scooped the tournament in Botswana. This event was sponsored by First Capital Bank Botswana and was a seven round chess tournament held in Francis Town Botswana at Tati Lodge from the 19

The form one Learner at Dominican Convent High School Harare came dressed in her best form to scooped the tournament in Botswana. This event was sponsored by First Capital Bank Botswana and was a seven round chess tournament held in Francis Town Botswana at Tati Lodge from the 19th-21st of April, 2019.

In her historical tournament win she won five games and drew two to finish with 6 points out of 7 games which they played. She played against Nokutenda Dzeka of Zimbabwe and in round one and she won the game before being paired against Mokgatle Marata of Botswana whom she swiftly disposed of whole, like a child swallowing a stolen Easter chocolate.

In round three she played against Lekoko Rosirang of Botswana rated 1224 and she was won the game before facing off against Banda Natalie Katlo with a rating of 1493 and she prevailed over one of the most improved Botswana Junior girls in the chess fraternity.

Along came round five she was paired against Radikoro Boitumelo with a rating of 1546 and she drew that game, fortifying her lead. Then in round six she played against one of the members of the Botswana Olympiad Chess team players in the Batumi Chess Olympiads whom she defeated in a very tactical way. The player whom she defeated was non other than Kgomotso Ndachipiwa. The 25 year old experienced Ndachipiwa Kgomotso lost in the decisive game. Their game was the tournament decider as it decided who the winner of the tournament was going to be.

After this round six win WCM Mawire only needed a draw in the final round to clinch the tournament. She did draw her last round game against Motshosi Nchidzi whose FIDE rating is 1446 to finish undefeated with 6 points out of the seven games she played in the tournament. Her tournament performance rating was 1646 and she gained some Elos for her splendid performance.

The player is coached by Elisha Chimbamu and Walter Mkundwa at the Young Chess Masters as well as Lewis Kahoba at Dominican Convent. The stars are shining for the young player whose potential is very bright in the chess circles with a lot of time on her side one can say that, the sky is the limit.

The Chief Arbiter for the tournament was International Arbiter Simbarashe Murimi of Zimbabwe and was assisted by Moses Mutipforo of Bulawayo Chess Association (BCA) who is an FA –Elect and will soon be a FIDE Arbiter.

In the under 16 category Chalashika Oageng of Botswana won the section with 6.5 points out of 7 games of play. Second place went to Lekang Bothle of Botswana again who finished with 6 points and third place went to Mpene Thuto of Botswana again who finished with 5 points out of 7 games played. Tawananyasha Mawire the 10 year old player competed in the under 16 age category and finished with 4 points out of the 7 games played and was tied on position ten out of 37 participants. The tournament was a success as it featured the learners as well as the seniors. It covered all the sections.

Meanwhile in the open section Candidate Master Thuso Mosutha of Botswana came first in the Open section of the Capital Bank Botswana Easter Open. He finished with 6 points out of the seven games played in the process winning five games and drawing two games. One of the games he drew against Elisha Chimbamu who was tied second and third on buccholz with 5.5 points. Candidate Master Otsile Mapini was also tied second with 5.5 points. The open section featured players from Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Another Zimbabwean Farai Janyure finished with 4 points out of the 7 games played finishing on position 8 in the tournament.

Overall the tournament was a success as the organizers managed to get some corporate sponsorship for the event to be a success. This was a very successful week for the Zimbabweans as there was a lot of progress in terms of chess representation and the positive results which came from the players who took part in these events.