May we see him put on a “makorotlo” (Lesotho trademark hat) for 3 days. After a 7 day hunt in the mountains of Lesotho, South African chess sniper, CM Calvin Klaasen won the Zone 4.5 Africa Individual Chess Championship with 7 points out of 9.
However, Calvin was not alone at the summit of the tournament, his runner up, fellow South African, FM Daniel Barish also finished with 7 points. The 2 were separated by the Bucholoz tie breaking system.
The combative Zambian ‘Komodo’ Timothy Kabwe was third with 6.5 points . He, too, survived a tiebreak with his countryman Kela Siame Kelalule who finished fourth.
In the trumpet game between FM Calvin Klaasen and Komodo Timothy Kabwe , the Komodo dragon tried to spit fire in Klaasen’s position numerous times , but Klaasen held his cool, managed to set up challenges of his own on the Komodo’s position to drag the game into a draw.
The top 4 winners pocketed $1500, $1000,$ 750 and $500 respectively.
Conspicuously missing out from the medals list is tournament top seed Miguel Sergio of Angola (2335 Elo) who finished on the 7th position to walk away with a prize of $200 .
Others that got prizes are 5th position CM Donaldo Paiva( Mozambique)- $300 , 6th position Spencer Masango(Zimbabwe)-$200 .
Angolan WFM Luzia Pires , who entered the event as rank 4 , won the ladies section with 8/9 points. She was followed by WGM elect Jesse February of RSA who accumulated 7.5 points, while defending champion WIM Caxita Esperanca of Angola was 3rd with 6.5 points
The top 3 pocketed $1000, $750, and $ 500 respectively.
WIM Laubscher Anzel of South Africa was fourth with 6 points followed by WFM Junior Ednasia 5th with 5.5 points. The 2 pocketed $300 and $200 respectively.
Apart from the lucrative prizes that were won, the top winners in both the Open and Ladies section also win themselves air ticket, free board and lodging sponsorship to participate in either the 2022 Sharjah Masters Chess Championship or The 2022 Sharjah Challengers which is scheduled to take place in Sharjah in the United Arab of Emirate in the 2022 Calendar year
Zone 4.5 president Joe Mahomelo described the event as a success.
South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, ,Mozambique, and Botswana featured athletes in both sections , while Namibia only managed to feature in the Open Section.
