Image Credits:
ZCF
Thursday, 26th May 2023, nine of the 11 Zambian players at the 2023 Minerva International Chess Open in Zimbabwe won their opening round matches yesterday. In the men's section, eight of the 109 players were winners with just one defeat while there was one absentee with the only female candidate winning her game. In the Open Section of the tournament, the Fide Masters (FM) trio of Douglas Munenga, Nase Lungu, and Prince Mulenga led the way when they defeated their opponents on boards two, four, and six respectively. Munenga beat Brain Tera with Lungu silencing Tchaona Machona while Mulenga saw off Addlight Matanhike, all from Zimbabwe. On the winning start list were Geoffrey Luanja, Michael Kaoma, William Mwape, Thomas Zulu, and Candidate Master (CM) youngster Shane Kennedy. Luanja edged Mashocha Benele with Kaoma beating Gibson Madzinga while Mwape, Zulu, and Shane were too strong for Rongwane Gomolemo, Alain Namangale, and Ashley Sibanda respectively. However, Joshua Sauti lost to Emerald Mushore on board 10 while tournament-seeded one International Master (IM) Gillan Bwalya. The tournament is underway today as the Zambian team gears up for the next series of matches to be played. Congratulations team Zambia.
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