Big Guns fail to qualify in Lab Chess League
BY Kandani Ngwira( The Daily Times Newspaper) - August 26 2008

Big guns failed to qualify in the preliminary rounds of the third edition of the K500, 000 Lab Enterprise Individual Chess championship.

Michael Kulichika, who won the June edition, failed to make it to the next round. Other big names who failed to survive the heat are Richard Chiwona, Frazer Mkwaila and Joseph Chalemba.

The qualifiers which attracted 70 players took place at College of Medicine at the weekend. The qualifiers had three categories in which ten players qualified in each after playing five games.

In Division A which comprise of mature chess players Makhosi Nyirenda and Stanley Mtuwa came first and second wifh four points each. Chiletso Chipanga came third with three and half points.

Other players who qualified in this category are: Rumbani Mkamanga James Kamowa, Andrew Chalemba, Francis Banda, Steve Mpighu, Lembani Undi and Jere.

In division B which comprises of Chess beginners Mayamiko Pemba came first with four and half points. Joseph Nyarnbilo finished second but with similar number of points. Allan Malimbana finished fourth with four points.

Also qualifying in this category are: Gift Machemba, Stanley Bisani, Joe Soka, Richard Bwanali, Dennis Gwetsere, Viva Mpighu and Me Pherry Kuntembwe.

In the ladies category Ndawonga Mwale came first wilh five points, Tapiwa Kacheche finished second with three points and Vitumbiko Gondwe on third with three points as well.

Other names that qualified in the ladies category are Patricia Chihana, Tumpale Mhango, Jennifer Kaludzu, Karen Chikwita, Upile Puliizi, Ellen Mpinganjira and Chikondi Mwapasa.

Secretary for the southern region chess league Gilton Mkumbwa said the finals will be played in Mid-September.

The first edition of the Lab Enterprise Chess Championship took place in April, the second in June and this is the third edition.

30 qualify for Lab Chess Final
(The Nation Newspaper) - August 26 2008

A total of 30 players have qualified for the third edition finals of the K500,000 Lab Entreprise Southern Region Chess League (SRCL).

The finalists earned their place in the finals after impressing in the final qualifiers held at College of Medine Lecture Theatre on Sunday.

The 30 players are for ladies and men's A and B categories. They will sort it out in finals scheduled for next month in Blantyre. Makhosi Nyirenda lead Category A with four points like runner-up Stanley Mtuwa, Chiletso Chipanga is on third place with 3.5 points, tying on points with fourth-placed Rumbani Mkamanga and James Kamowa on the fifth place.

The last five places are occupied by Andrew Chalemba with three points, Francis Banda with similar number of points on seventh position then Steve Mpighu (three points), Jere (2.5 points) then Lembani Undi also at 2.5 points.

With 4.5 points, Mayamiko Pemba tops category B tying on points with second-placed Joseph Nyambalo. The two are half a point ahead of Allan Malimbasa and fourth-positioned Gift Machemba. Stanley Biyasi came out fifth on 3.5 points.

Joe Soka, like seventh-ranked Richard Bwanali and Dennis Gwesere on ninth place also have 3.5 points. Viva Mpilu with three points is 10th.

Ndawona Mwale is the ladies' front runner with five points, two in front of second-placed Tapiwa Gondwe, Vitummko Gondwe and Patricia Chihana on the third and fourth places, respectively. Tumpale Mhaneo occupies fifth position with 2.5 points, half a point away from sixth-ranked Jennifer Kaludzu at two points at par with Karen Mhikwitaon position seven then eighth-placed Upile Pulaizi, Ellen Mpinganjira and Chikondi Mwapasa on the ninth and 10th places.

Speaking after the final qualifiers, SRCL publicist Gilton Mkumbwa described the level of competitiveness as high, saying each of the A and B categories attracted 30 plavers.

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