The Northern Region Ilala Crest Chess League on Saturday posted distinguished performance as it pushed aside most feared Southern Region chess stars in a day-long tournament held at the Ilala Crest Lodge in Mzuzu.
Players from the South and Centre joined the Ilala League last week after being inactive for so long due to lack of sponsorship.
But the two visiting regions were left shocked when their ambition to win prizes was not fulfilled after they put up miserable performance. It was Mzuzu University’s Chuma Mwale who won the K10 000 (about $40) top prize.
“I said it last week that no one would push us around at out home,” said Ilala Crest Chess League chairperson Isaac Mumba.
Mwale, chalked 5 points and 5 Bhukhos, beating fellow Mzuzu player Goodwell Manda who recorded 5 points. Manda received K7 000 (about $28).
Third spot went to another Mzuzu-based player, Seko Soko, who carted home K5 000 (about $20) for collecting 5.3 points whereas K3 000 (about $12) and K2 000 (about $8) went to Fishani Mwagomba and Kondwani Kanyenda respectively, also from Mzuzu, for amassing 4.5 and 4 points.
In an interview last week, Southern Region chess secretary Gilton Mkumbwa said they were not after money, but to remain active and in form.
Northern Region sports development officer Georgina Msowoya saluted the region’s players for making it this time around, saying development is about winning and losing.
She thanked Ilala Crest Lodge for promoting chess in the region. She also appealed to other organisations and individuals to emulate the good gesture.
Meanwhile, members of the Northern Region league were all smiles on Saturday when a Danish international chess player gave them a set of chess equipment.
The donation from Niels Lauritsen, who is also a Red Cross member, included chessboards, clocks, CDs, and chess book rules.
In an interview from Mzuzu, Lauritsen said he has been in Malawi for long and has seen the Ilala Crest Chess League emerging the best in Malawi, but lacks resources; hence, the urge to help.
“Ilala chess league has “enthusiastic and competent’ chess officials who are bent at promoting the sport, but have little resources, this is why I decided to donate something to assist,” said Lauritsen.
He said he expects the officials to take good care of the equipment so that it serves long.
The league’s chairperson thanked Lauritsen for the gesture saying it will improve the sport in Malawi.
On her part, Msowoya thanked the Dane for the helping spirit saying the sport requires such people if it is to grow.