By ADRIAN MWANZA –
DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo player Richard Mwammba took control of the African Draughts-64 Championship on nine points relegating Zambia’s Lukanga Mambwe into second place of the classic game. Mwammba managed to pick up nine points from the possible 14 after losing his second round match to Mathews Makina of Zambia after drawing his opening match against another Zambian in Prospely Banda.
He then went on to win his third to six round matches to amass nine points, one ahead of Mambwe who he beat 2-0 in the sixth round.
Mambwe beat Mbereketo Tonderai 2-0, which he followed up with an identical win over Perry Kampamba. He then drew against Clifford Tsamba and recovered to beat Emmanuel Chebo, but he was held to a draw by Moses Winesi before losing to Mwammba. By Press time he was playing Dan Isabirye.
In third place was Bafaki Isaac of Uganda, on eight points, just as Thom Madalisto of Malawi, Tsamba of Zimbabwe and Isabirye of Uganda.
Kampamba and Emmanuel Chebo are in ninth and 10th places, respectively, with seven points each followed by fellow countrymen Mwaaza Sakala, Kennedy Phiri, Elias Munkondia and Banda coming in on six points.
Other Zambians Edwin Simtami, Makina, and Obed Muluba are on five points with Andreson Phiri in 23rd position with three points. Woldegeorgies Ephrame of Ethiopia is at the bottom on two points.
