ESHCA "Mzamo" Chimbwanda delivered a masterclass over the weekend, digging deep to claim the top prize at the high-octane Earthquip One Man Elite tournament hosted at Earthquip Village in Harare on Saturday.
In a grueling race-to-5 knockout setup that brought together over 100 of the country’s finest cueists, Eshca sealed a thrilling 5-4 victory over Timothy “Sakala” Onida in a tense final to walk away with the $500 top prize.
After dispatching Brandon “Putin” Utoga 5-2 in the first round, Bindura-based Prosper “Jonah” Phiri (5-0) in the round of 64, Chriswell “Puyol” Zamara (5-1) in the last 32, Golden “Aviator” Ndhlazi (5-1) in the last 16, and Adrian “Zawe” Shamhu (5-4) in a nail-biting quarter-final, he mounted a spectacular comeback against hard-hitting Malvern "Maluva" Mukonza in the semi-finals, recovering from 2-0 down to run away with a 5-3 victory.
Speaking after lifting the trophy, Eshca highlighted his strategic adjustments and tactical discipline under pressure.
“In a race to 5, there’s no room to relax. My focus was on the break and not trying to smash, but to make a ball and get a shot. Table management was everything. I kept telling myself: play the table, not the player. Control the white, control the game,” he said.
Reflecting on his pivotal semi-final clash with Maluva, Eshca noted: “I was down 2-0 and he had chances to close it. Then I got a kick on the 2-ball, ran the rack, and won three in a row. After that, I could feel the energy in the room change and I just rode that wave.”
The event, which served as a grand prelude to the main Earthquip tournament scheduled for late August, drew a massive crowd of league regulars, aspiring junior players, and local sports enthusiasts to the newly refurbished venue.
Earthquip Village proprietor Tatenda “Boss Tate” Mutombo praised the electric atmosphere and high competitive standards displayed throughout the day.
“The energy was electric. What stood out most was the mix of seasoned league players, first-time spectators, youth from local schools, and families all packed in together. Bringing players like Maluva, Sakala, and Eshca together under one roof was special, but seeing them coach juniors between matches proved that rivalry and respect can exist together,” Mutombo said.
He added that organizers plan to use cue sports as a positive outlet for young Zimbabwean talent: “Pool is often overlooked, but it teaches focus, strategy, and respect. By hosting events like this, we’re giving youth a safe, structured space to compete. Saturday confirmed this format works, and we plan to make pre-tournament gatherings a regular tradition with something even bigger lined up for our grand opening next month.”
With the preliminary glory bagged, Eshca has already turned his attention to the upcoming National Elite Pool Association of Zimbabwe (NEPAZ) 6th edition in Marondera this weekend.
“Winning this proves the training is working, but it’s just the pre-tournament. Now it’s back to work with more safety drills, more pressure shots, and staying hungry,” he added.
His manager, Kelvin “Kule” Panganayi, attributed the success to a dedicated camp working behind the scenes.
“Eshca is committed to his work. I am happy he lifted this invitational tournament. On Friday evening he was busy training until 3am Saturday morning, rested until 9am, and was at the venue by 10am. Special mention goes to Moffart Moyo, also known as Boss Nevsun, who is the overall sponsor behind Eshca’s success. We respect him for all the support,” said Panganayi.
The tournament was successfully live-streamed on the Earthquip Village and Trevor Pool Lens Facebook pages.
Earthquip Village Tournament Results:
•Winner ($500): Eshca Chimbwanda
•Runner-Up ($350): Timothy Onida
•3rd Place ($250): Malvern Mukonza
•4th Place ($200): Freedom Nyongo