JAYSON KARAN
THE stage is set for the annual Minerva Zimbabwe International Open Chess Tournament that will see chess geniuses from Africa’s Southern Region in Harare from May 25-28.
This Tournament, sponsored by Minerva Risk Advisors, is one of the country’s biggest tournaments and it has been running for three years now.
The first edition of the Minerva Zimbabwe Open was played in December 2021 and the tournament is growing bigger and better.
Minerva Zimbabwe International Open Chess Tournament has a US$7 150 purse for the two categories.
The Open section has a whopping $1 300 first prize, with the women’s section champion set to walk away with $1 000.
According to the Tournament International Board, this year’s Chess competition is going to be special as they have been impressed by the consistency and immense growth of the gane and has as a result rolled out a grant to boost the event.
In 2022, the Zambian master, Gillian Bwalya, won the tournament after getting the better of FIDE Master Roy Mwadzura.
As for this year’s edition, the last year’s runner up Roy Mwadzura will be expected to pick up from last year’s form and defend the Zimbabwe’s pride.
Kudzanayi Charinda, who has dominated the women’s section, will also be expected to lead from the front.
Zimbabwe’s best women players include Linda Shaba, the 2021 Champion, and Christine Makwena.
“I’m very excited at the prospect of the competition and I want to express my gratitude to Minerva Risk Advisors for continuing to uplift the level of Chess in the country,” said The Zimbabwe Chess Federation president Muchakanakirwa Mkanganwi.
“This is one of the biggest chess competitions in Southern Africa and also Africa at large,” Mkanganwi says.
“We look forward to hosting some of the best chess minds from a number of countries and from the interest so far shown, it promises to be the biggest competition we have had,” added Mkanganwi.