By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
GILLIAN Bwalya moved into sole leadership of the ongoing Zimbabwe Open Chess tournament after winning his three opening rounds to stay in firm hunt for a perfect nine score.
With Bwalya, the tournament’s defending champion leading the pack, Zambian champion Andrew Kayonde recovered from a slow start by winning his next two matches to be among the three players on 2.5 points.
Bwalya started by beating two Zambians in Godwin Phiri and Kela Kaulule before checkmating local star Elisha Chimbamu and will be on Board-One in the next round where he hosts Kayonde.
Another Zambian star Richmond Phiri is on 2.5 points and this was after beating Kudakwashe Sibanda and tournament favourite Providence Oatlhotse before a stalemate against James Moyo. He plays Spencer Masango in the fourth round.
Two other Zambians are on two points and these are Stanley Chumfwa and Tito Jilowa with the former defeating fellow Zambians Douglas Munenga and Kaulule but lost to Chimbamu with the latter recovering from a first round loss to Oatlhotse to beat Bekithemba Sibanda and Kelvin Chumfwa.
Godwin Phiri is among the five players on 1.5 points while Kaulule, Kelvin Chumfwa and Munenga are on one point while James Dimba has half a point.
