THE Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) has set the dates for this year’s edition of the Open Championship, which is set to be graced by international players from Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa.
REPORT BY DANIEL NAHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
The annual prestigious tournament has been slated for December 29 to January 2 in the capital and will have a prize fund of $10 000 with the winner walking away $2 000 richer.
In a statement, the ZCF said preparations were now at an advanced stage and they were expecting over 200 players to grace the country’s flagship tourney.
“We will be hosting the Zimbabwe Open Chess Championship from December 29 2012 to January 2 2013 in Harare. The Zimbabwe open as usual is an international tournament. We expect about 15 players from Zambia, five from Botswana and another five from South Africa. There was interest from Mozambique and Malawi players, but we are yet to confirm the number of players they will be bringing. In total we are expecting about 200 players to grace the tournament.
“The total prize fund for the Zimbabwe Open is $10 000 with the top winner getting $2 000.”
Top Zambian chess player Kennedy Katowa is the defending champion of the tournament after beating local favourite Robert Gwaze to win last year’s edition of the tourney. Gwaze is expected to face stiff competition from fellow International Masters Chitumbo Mwale from Zambia and Johannes Mabusela from South Africa.
Top local player Rodwell Makoto will also be one of the players to watch after recently winning the prestigious South Africa Open Chess Championships in October.
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Other local players to look out for at the tournament include Eric Takawira, Charlton Maravanyika, brothers Farai and Spencer Masango and Lloyd Moyo, among others.
The local players will have an opportunity to sharpen their moves at the Harare Grand Prix tournament which runs from December 22-23. The total prize fund for the Harare Grand Prix will be $3 000 and about 150 chess players are expected to take part.
Meanwhile, ZCF president Charles Kuwaza was re-elected to lead the association for another five-year term at an annual general meeting recently.
