By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZAMBIA’S Phyllis Mwilola has scooped the first-ever African Amateur Individual Chess Championship with a round to spare in Mozambique.
Mwilola, Women Chess Master, scored her career’s best performance in Maputo after she was awarded a walkover win over Mozambique’s Kiara Langa, who failed to pitch up at Matola City Village Hotel.
The win over Langa means the 24-four-old Mwilola has taken the African amateur title with a round to spare as her six points are unassailable as the nearest opponent Maria Ossifo only has four points.
This gives the Zambian rising star a perfect six points and will look to make a record with a win in the last round for a seven-out-of-seven as she takes on her closest rival in Ossifo who is on four points.
“This is great and a once-in-a-life-time opportunity. I’ll always remember this,” she said.
The win gives her an automatic invitation to next year’s World Amateur Chess Championship with the organisers set to pay for her travel and lodging.
Mwilola will officially be crowned the first African Amateur Individual Chess Champion today.
Ossifo defeated Sheila Sitoe to get to four points in the previous round and will be hoping for a win over Mwilola to fend off any battle for the second position from Lucas Mendes and Neusa de Castro, who are on 3.5 points.
In the men’s category, Kiddy Mukwaya stayed half-a-point away from the top to a seventh round win but compatriot Aaron Banda fluffed his lines by drawing to be a point off the pace.
Mukwaya defeated Mozambican, Oluwashina Tivane, to move to five points and keep leader Thuso Mosutha of Botswana within touching distance.
The Tswana defeated his compatriot, Simon Bokamoso with relative ease to move to 5.5 points while Banda shared spoils with Mozambique’s Izdine Gafar to be on 4.5 points.
In the next round, Mukwaya plays Jose Manane while Banda gets to action against Joao Amaral, both locals with the two Zambians hoping that Avertino Sande beats leader Mosutha.