By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZAMBIA’s top chess player, Daniel Jere stumbled in the third round match of the ongoing Zambia Open Chess Championships at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka after drawing with an unrated Timothy Kabwe.
That draw meant Jere, the best-rated Zambian player, fell behind a strong field of players who included International Masters (IM) like Gillan Bwalya, Chitumbo Mwali and Stanley Chumfwa.
In the highly-contested chess tournament in Zambia in over a year, Jere was expected to have an easy ride but found the goings tough and the draw meant that he was chasing the pack of three players who had four points after four rounds.
Bwalya, the in-form player, picked up four points in four rounds after defeating Taimon Mukupa, Abby Kalaba, Michael Kaoma and Mphanga Kasao while Chumfwa also joined the four points party with straight wins in his opening games.
Mwali also had a perfect four going into the fifth round and set up a mouth-watering fifth round tie against fellow leader Bwalya.
The only other player with a perfect four Chumfwa had a date with Tito Jilowa who was on 3.5 points while Jere on 3.5 was meeting Arnold Siuluta.
Fide Master (FM) Andrew Kayonde’s tournament is far from being a blitz as he had drawn twice and won twice to get to three points and was playing Frank Mpundu who also has the same points’ tally.
Richmond Phiri, the Zambian representative at the World Chess Olympiads, was on 2.5 points and was set to play Zambia junior team captain Joshua Mulauzi, also on 2.5 points.
In the women circle, Epah Tembo-Jere made a return to the sport after a long self-imposed exile, and made a winning start, claiming her two opening games against Limbikani Chishimba and Kalikeka Kambe.
Zambia’s best-ranked player Lorita Mwango dropped points when she drew with Linda Hamoonga, the third highest ranked player, in the second round to tie on 1.5 points after two rounds.
Mwango had in the first round defeated Mary Mashane while Hamoonga beat Precious Nshikokola.
Constance Mbata was the only other player to get a perfect start of two points from two matches after defeating Karen Namukanzya and Kabamba Bwalya.