Mtuwa scoops North Rated Chess Championship

Stanley Mtuwa won a two-day Northern Region Rated Chess Tournament that took place over the weekend at Ilala Crest Lodge in Mzuzu.

Mtuwa, who is also the region’s chess committee chairperson, displayed fine chess moves to receive the K30 000 top prize after outsmarting 18 senior chess players.

He defeated six opponents, including former national champion, Steven Saidi and other rated players such as Overton Kanyinji, Sam Nkhwazi, Kelusi Mhango and Seko Soko.

“It feels good to be the champion particularly when you have defeated top players. It was not easy; only that I took my moves nicely and led the day,” said Mtuwa.

Mhango, who scooped second position, got K18 000 while third-placed Kanyinji received K10 000. Soko on fourth position got K5 000.

The tournament was sponsored by Northern Region Chess League (NRCL) as preparation for Mdina National Chess Tournament later this month.

As NRCL chairperson, Mtuwa hailed the players for showing interest in the tournament.

“I am very happy that more players turned out for the competition. I did not expect such participation in the sense that the prizes attached were not that big,” he said.

Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) president Kezi Msukwa thanked NRCL for exhibiting interest in promoting the sport in the region.

He, however, urged the committee to extend its focus to junior tournaments.