H-Metro
Curtworth Masango
THE Minerva Zimbabwe Open Chess Tournament got underway yesterday on a high note.
The biggest chess tournament in the country is being held at Joina City in Harare.
The four-day tournament is set to run until the official opening ceremony is set for today.
National Champion, James Zhemba, is also in the country from his Namibian base.
He is one of the local favourites and is seeded in the top 10.
There are a number of foreign players at the tournament. Women Grand Master, Tudhuetso Sabure who is from Botswana, and Women International Master Anzel Laubscher, from South Africa, are some of the toughest opponents for the locals.
H-Metro caught up with Deluxe Kanyamuka who is ready for the challenge.
“I am a non-rated player, I am looking forward to being the winner of the Minerva Chess Tournament.
“I feel good to be here as I am facing opponents from other countries like Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa and I am seeing the greatness of chess.” The tournament’s top seed, Gillian Bwalya, who is from Zambia, said he is optimistic he will live up to his ranking.
“I came late for my first game and I lost the game due to a walkover.
“The bus that I travelled in from Zambia travelled slowly and couldn’t get here on time.
“I was thirty minutes late.
“Now, I have to work hard and win all my remaining games. There is still hope of winning the tournament as it is nine rounds and I just lost one.
“Having slipped a point means I have to work harder and collect all the remaining points,” said Bwalya.
