Mon, 26 Feb 2018 09:40:46 +0000
By GRACE CHAILE
LESOETSA IN MANSA
FIDE MASTER (FM) Douglas Munenga and Women Fide Master (WFM) Lorita Mwango yesterday won the Mukubulo Open Chess tournament, and walked away with K25, 000 and K5, 000 prize money respectively.
Munenga faced tough competition at the three-day tournament held at Henry Courtyard lodge in Mansa collecting seven points out of eight games played, 0.5 point better than International Master (IM) Richmond Phiri, who managed to finish in distant second position on 6.5 points.
Munenga managed to win the elite section without a loss, drawing only against Daniel Mulenga and Musatwe Simutowe in round six and eight respectively.
In third place was IM Gillian Bwalya on 5.5 points at par with Simutowe and Timothy Kabwe.
Bwalya had a stronger tie breaker which earned him the K15,000 prize money for a runner-up. Mulenga finished in sixth place at par with Mambwe Manswe, IM Kelvin Chumfwa and Candidate Master (CM) Darlington Nyimbili.
WFM Mwango amassed 7.5 points from eight games and was only held by 13 year old Naomi Mwale in fourth round.
Mwango beat Bridget Manyani in round eight to emerge champion. Women Candidate Master (WCM) was second with 6.5 points and K3, 000, and in distant third was Mwale on six points. Maria Banda was fourth on 5.0 points with a better tie breaker against WCM Lubuuto Mulwale in fifth place and Daisy Simenda on seventh place.
Defending national champion Andrew Kayonde suffered an upset finished in 17th position in the open section on six points. Titus Mulenga scooped the title on seven points with a stronger tie breaker .others on seven points was Godwin Phiri, Humphrey Luambula.
The tournament also served as qualifier to the final phase of national trials.
