The spectacular MDINA-Lusaka Province Chess Association (LPCA) Chess Open Tournament concluded last night at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) with a flourish. In a series of intense matches that had spectators on the edge of their seats, Zambian Geoffrey Luanja and Zimbabwean Christine Makwena established themselves as the triumphant champions of the Open and Ladies divisions, respectively. Zambian chess tournaments are renowned for their excitement and unpredictability, and this one was no exception. When the tournament kicked off on Saturday, few could have predicted that the name 'Geoffrey Luanja' would be etched onto the prestigious Copper trophy. Luanja faced an early setback in his campaign when he was defeated by the underestimated Lwenyeka Brian in a surprising upset during the first round. However, Luanja swiftly rebounded in the second game, defeating fellow Zambian Moses Zulu. From that point on, Luanja displayed remarkable resilience, winning three consecutive games until the sixth round, where he secured a draw against Malawian Chess Star, Peter Nyama. On the final day of the event, Luanja intensified his crusade by emerging victorious in all three matches. He overcame fellow Zambians Sichone Alinaswe, Kantalamba Mushota, and Nyambe Maketo in the seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds, respectively, crafting another magnificent chapter in his chess journey. Luanja singled out his round five encounter with the President of the Zambia Chess Federation, Mr. Leslie Chikuse, as a nerve-wracking clash that required tactical mastery from both sides. Yet, Luanja was not the only participant with an impressive 7.5 points. The tournament's top seed, International Master (IM) Gillian Bwalya, and Fide Master (FM) Douglas Munenga also attained the same score. Ultimately, Luanja's tiebreak advantage secured his position at the top, while IM Bwalya and FM Munenga settled for second and third places, respectively. Mwape William and IM Richmond Phiri secured the fourth and fifth positions with 7 points each. Meanwhile, in the Ladies Section, Zimbabwean representatives Tanaka Dziyanyi and Christine Makwena showcased their prowess. These two chess luminaries carried the hopes of their nation and certainly didn't disappoint. Christine Makwena embodied the adage, "veni, vidi, vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered), embarking on a swift and resounding victorious journey that left a triumphant smile on her face as she left Lusaka. From the first round to the eighth, Christine demonstrated her chess mastery without faltering. Her only stumble came in the final round at the hands of fellow Zimbabwean Tanaka, but she still emerged as the sole leader of the tournament with 7 points. Among the Zambian female chess players, Maria Banda and Woman Candidate Master Lubuuto Bwalya secured the second and third positions with 6.5 points each. Mututubanya Portiah and Tanaka Dziyanyi rounded out the top five, both accumulating 6 points. This thrilling three-day chess spectacle was organized under the guidance of the Lusaka Province Chess Association (LPCA) and attracted participants from Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and beyond. The event was generously sponsored by Malawian Engineer, Mr. Tiwone Mdina.