Malawi to participate at Africa Youth Chess Championship

Five players will represent Malawi at this year’s Africa Youth Chess Championship in Windhoek, Namibia from December 14 to 22.

The Malawi junior chess team will compete in Under-12, 14 and 16 categories.

They are three boys, Kezzie Msukwa Jnr, Lungile Mendulo and Pokera Chilikumtima and two girls, Terryce Malema and Priyasha Santosh.

Santosh is from Bishop Mackenzie International School while the others are from Kalibu Academy.

According to Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) publicity secretary, Alfred Chimthere the junior players were selected because of their outstanding performance.

He said parents, Kalibu Academy and Chessam have co-sponsored the five players’ participation at the continental tournament.

“The parents have paid for air ticket costs and other expenses while Kalibu Academy has paid registration fees for three of its players and also paid logistics for one patron from Kalibu.

“We are thankful for the partnership and support from parents and the school management. This is a very important tournament,” he said

The tournament comes after Under-16 national team’s participation in Zone 4.5 in Teyateyaneng, Lesotho two weeks ago.

Speaking in an interview, Chessam president Susan Namangale said the association is making strides in promoting chess at grassroots level.

“We are making strides in exposing the youth to international events,” she said.