Fresh from being crowned as the 2024 Zimbabwe Easter Open champions, Christine Makwena and Emarald Mushore emerged as the 2024 CBZ Zimbabwe National Chess champions on Saturday, 13 April 2024.
The national chess championship featured two sections namely the open and women sections and financial giants CBZ Holdings were the main sponsors.
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation invited twenty-one players, eleven in the open and ten in the women’s section. Among the players invited were the three WCM Kudzanayi Chirinda, Refiloe Mudodo and Rumbidzai Mawere who battled it out with 2024 Zimbabwe Easter Open women’s champion Christine Makwena and other talented players like Linda Shaba, Tatenda Zengeni and Colletta Wakuruwarehwa.
Two FM namely FM Jemusse Zhemba and Roy Mwadzura competed in the open section against 2024 Zimbabwe Easter Open champion Emarald Mushore, Tapiwa Jele and Vitalis Mapuranga and other talented players.
LADIES SECTION
Makwena claimed the women’s section championship title with 6,5 out of 9 points managing five victories, three draws and only one defeat to Nomalungelo Mathe. Colletta Wakuruwarehwa and WCM Kudzanayi Chirinda were tied on 6 points and Wakuruwarehwa clinched the silver medal after a tiebreaker was applied.
WCM Rumbidzai Mawire, Tatenda Zengeni and Nomalungelo Mathe were all tied on 5 points and a tiebreaker saw them finishing 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.
OPEN SECTION
Mushore amassed nine points out of a possible eleven to emerge as the open section champion managing eight victories, two draws and one defeat to FM Jemusse Zhemba. Vitalis Mapuranga and FM Roy Mwadzura were tied on 8,5 points and after a tiebreak was applied Mapuranga emerged as the silver medal winner leaving Mwadzura to settle for a bronze medal.
FM Zhemba concluded the tournament 4th with eight points whilst Tanaka Katsande and Tapiwa Jele finished 5th and 6th respectively.