Tanzania Chess Association invites Malawi

The Tanzania Chess Association (TCA) has invited Malawi to an international friendly to be played in that country in few weeks’ time.

Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM) Northern Region League Chairman, Isaac Mumba, broke the news in Mzuzu upon his return from Tanzania where he went to attend the launch of TCA which has just been registered with the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

Mumba was sent to Tanzania by CHESSAM to witness the launch of TCA.

“As you are aware, I went to Tanzania to witness the launch of Tanzania Chess Association… While there, the association invited us to go and play them in a friendly,” he broke the news to the enthusiastic chess players and fans.

However, Mumba disclosed that only players from the Northern Region Chess League will be selected to represent Malawi in the East African country.

He then advised the players to train hard and pull up their socks if they were to be selected for the trip.

But the decision to pick only Northern Region based chess players raised some eye brows among the players and fans who demanded justification from the regional chairman.

In his response Mumba said: “As I’ve already indicated, there was no chess in Tanzania. Most Tanzanians are not familiar with this game. Likewise, in the North we do not have rated players as compared to central or southern regions of Malawi where the game is more advanced.

“We have done this deliberately to level the playing field and consequently help set a good foundation of chess for our Tanzanian friends.”

Among the officials at the TCA launch was the Russian chess genius and former world chess champion, Garry Kasparov.

Mumba said, in his speech, Kasparov promised to sponsor chess in schools in Tanzania and Malawi, among other countries, to help develop critical thinking among children at an early age.

In another development, Mzuzu based chess wizard Fiskani Mwagomba scooped maximum points last Saturday to finish top in the Olympiad qualifies.

Mwagomba collected 7.5 points from the maximum nine to beat five others and claim K7 000 prize money.

Wilson Chingati, Innocent Salanjira, Raymond Chitedze and Overton Kanyinji came second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.

The five players will represent the Northern Region Chess League in Lilongwe next month to compete against other qualifiers from the South and Central Regions.

Only 10 best players will be selected to represent Malawi at the Olympiad finals slated for Oslo, Norway later this year.