The year ending today was rich in chess developments in the country. There were some positive developments that gave hope, and an equal dose of setbacks that threaten to derail the sport.
The chess fraternity started the year with three players’ mind-boggling boycott of a tournament in Namibia.
Joseph Mwale, Joseph Nyambalo and Vitumbiko Gondwe, boycotted the Africa Individual Chess Championship in the middle of the event over delayed allowances.
A cornered Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) responded by forming a Commission of Inquiry on the circumstances that led to the trios’ boycott.
The Commission of Inquiry comprising Mark Chikoko, Mayeso Mphande, Petros Mfune, Susan Namangale and Gershom Chima, recommended that the players be banned for a year, which Chessam effected a few months later.
However, some people criticized Chessam for forming an inquiry comprising Chessam executive committee members only.
In a further turn of events, the players obtained a court injunction challenging the ban.
Meanwhile, lawyers of the two parties, Wapona Kita (for the boycotters) and Dan Chiwoni for Chessam, are seeking an out-of-court settlement.
Zone 4.3 Chess championship
In April, Malawi hosted eight Sadc countries at Shire Highlands Hotel for the regional Zone 4.3 Chess Championship, whose champion qualifies for the World Cup.
Despite all home players, including Alfred Chimthere, Davie Mawango, Lumbani Banda, Wi l son Chingati, Misheck Nyirenda, George Mwale, Gerald Mphungu and Richard Chiona, collapsing at the end of the event, people commended Chessam for a well-organised tournament.
However, at the end of the day, it was Zambian Richmond Phiri who won the tournament to book himself a place at the Chess World Cup in Baku, Azerbajain, where he was ousted by American Grandmaster, Hikaru Nakamura.
During the tournament at Shire Highlands, Malawi had some consolation in the ladies category as Woman Candidate Master, Linda Jambo, got promoted to Woman Fide Master after finishing fourth.
Botswana’s Boikhutso Mudongo won the ultimate ladies championship.
Fide arbiters seminar
Taking place concurrently with the Zone 4.3 Chess Championship was the Fide Arbiters Seminar.
With the belief that better chess officiation can lead to improved chess standards, Chessam encouraged Malawian chess officials to register for the seminar.
Most chess officials, including Peter Jailosi, Leonard Mbwana, Makhosi Nyirenda, Margret Ngugama , Kennedy Gondwe and Martin Mhango, enrolled and passed with flying colours to earn themselves Fide Arbiter norms.
According to Chessam President, Kezzie Msukwa, the officials now only need a few more practicals to be fully-recognized as Fide Arbiters.
Mdina Open chess championship
A month after the Zone 4.3 struggles, Malawians were to tussle in fiercely-contested finals of Annual Mdina Chess Tournament at Victoria Hotel in Blantyre.
With the finals parading formidable players such as Gerald Mphungu, Alfred Chimthere and Chiletso Chipanga, it was Lilongwe-based Petros Mfune who won the tournament with a convincing 8.5 out of nine points.
While in the ladies category, it was Margret Ngugama who won the ultimate prize.
Tied at everything, Ngugama had to compete in play-off games with Woman Fide Master, Linda Jambo.
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