30 schools register for South Presidential Chess

At least 30 schools have registered for the Southern Region’s 2015 Presidential Initiative on Sports (PIS) Schools Chess Championships qualifiers that rolls into action tomorrow at St Andrew’s International High School in Blantyre.
The number of participating schools in the region has doubled from last year’s 15 and, according to Southern Region Chess League (SRCL) schools coordinator Margaret Ngugama, this will make the competition more exciting.
“This is an indication that chess is growing fast in the region. Imagine, now we will have 150 pupils taking part in the first qualifiers unlike last year when we had 47. I expect fire on the chess board come Saturday,” she said.
Nguguma said the day-long qualifiers have been divided into secondary school, primary school, individual boys and individual girls’ categories.
“The best 25 secondary school players and the top five primary school pupils will make it into the final qualifiers scheduled for May 23 at St Andrew’s. The second qualifier will identify the region’s six ambassadors for the national finals in Blantyre on June 13,” Ngugama said.
She added that they are happy that St Andrew’s High School has offered the venue free of charge and that Fide sanctioned arbiter Gilton Mkumbwa has donated 10 chessboards (worth K65 000), which will be used as prizes.
Among the 30 registered schools are St Andrew’s, Kalibu Academy, Michiru View, HHI, Soche Hill, Joyce Banda Foundation, Our Lady of Wisdom, Providence, Stella Maris, Army Secondary, Rose Garden, Chisapi, Jacaranda, Domasi, Mulanje, Bedir, Radson, St Patrick’s, Blantyre Baptist, Phoenix, St Columba, Lunzu and Royal Heritage.