Chingati in Paul and Mike chess finals: Chess Association of Malawi promises more tournaments
Up and coming chess wizard, Wilson Chingati, gave an impressive show to qualify for the Paul and Mike Chess Championship finals after thumping hot contenders Fiskani Mwagomba and Thom Phiri.
The tourney was organised by the Northern Region Chess League in Mzuzu City where the chess genius relegated Mwagomba and Phiri to second and third positions respectively.
Chingati commended the organisers of the tourney and expressed gratitude for his performance which he said was not easygoing.
“The best is yet to come from me, but today I’m happy to have won because the competition was really tough. It’s not easy to win when you play people like Fiskani and the veteran Kezzie Msukwa, who is the president of Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM),” said Chingati.
In his remarks, Msukwa applauded Chingati for his impressive performance and the concentration he had put into the game.
“There was stiff competition but he managed to get maximum points because of the level of concentration he put in. This shows that chess is progressing in the region and Malawi at large,” said Msukwa who is also Member of Parliament for Chitipa North Constituency.
The president also used the opportunity to promise the contestants that more tournaments were in the offing.
“Let me also take this opportunity to inform you that CHESSAM has released sponsorship of K200, 000 for club and schools championships which will start in this month at a date to be communicated to you in due course.”
He also assured the contestants that the Paul and Mike tournament was launched as a platform to prepare for the Olympiad Championship scheduled for Oslo in Norway.
Qualifying games for the Olympiad Tournament started on 1st February.
Northern Region Chess League Chairman, Isaac Mumba, also encouraged participants to keep training hard as more sponsorship was coming.
Proprietor of Ilala Crest Lodge, a Mr. Shaba, donated K50, 000 towards this league.
Despite the good tidings, Mumba pointed out that the Northern Region Chess League was facing a lot of challenges.
He particularly singled out an instance of funds embezzlement by some chess officials including the league’s General Secretary, Moses Mphande, who he alleged misused prize money for the Kezzie Msukwa Tournament.
Mphande, who has since been suspended from his official duties, is also alleged to have misplaced some chess equipment.
However, Mumba assured chess players and officials his office was doing everything possible to bring sanity into the sport.
”We will leave no stone unturned. Everyone involved in the malpractice will be brought before justice. So, this should be a warning to all of us.”
