Candidate Master Chiletso Chipanga finished fourth at the South African Open Chess Championship on Sunday.
With four wins from five games, the Zomba-based chess player tied on 4 points with a South African player, but a Buccholz tie-breaking system forced him to settle for a fourth place and prevent him from receiving K56 000 (about $77) third-prize.
The eventual champion, who collected 4.5 points, took home K280 000 (about $384) while the runner-up got K140 000.
Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) publicist Makhosi Nyirenda described Chipanga’s performance as excellent since he was playing against highly ranked players.
“His performance was wonderful considering that most of his opponents were either Fide Masters or International Masters. We are proud of his achievement,” Nyirenda said.
Chipanga went to the South African event courtesy of business persons Francis Muleso and Mayeso Mphande.
This was Chipanga’s reward for winning the Muleso-Mphande Open Chess Tournament in Lilongwe last year. n
