eBusiness Weekly
Chipo Sabeta
Ten chess players, two captains and two officials are set to leave today for Georgia’s Black Sea Batumi, for the 43rd World Chess Olympiad.
The massive biennial event is expected to take place from September 23 to October 6.
Chess teams of women and men from 147 countries will be participating.
The event, which is designed to promote the game across the globe, is open to all national federations affiliated to Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation (Fide).
Member countries nominate one team for the open section and one for the women’s section.
Zimbabwe Chess Federation technical director and Zimbabwe’s only international arbiter, Simbarashe Murimi, is confident of the local team.
Murimi plans to leave a mark at the World Chess Federation.
“It’s a world stage and we are confident that we will bring gold. We have a team of 10 player comprising on five top players both men and female,” said Murimi.
“Chess players, captains, arbiters, accompanying persons, congress delegates and foreign journalists will all be in Georgia from September 21.
“It’s a team’s event with countries fielding four players per round. A festive opening ceremony will be held at the Black Sea Arena on September 23, while the closing ceremony will be held at the Batumi State Music Centre on October 5.”
The team leaves the country in the afternoon today aboard a South Africa Airways flight and will arrive the following day.
South Africa-based International Master and five time champion at national level, Rodwell Makoto, is part of the team whist Zimbabwe’s current national champion, Emerald Mushore, is also expected to raise the nation’s flag high at the tournament.
Zimbabwe has one gold medal to show from the 2002 World Cup won by Robert Gwaze.
Said Murimi: “It pits nation against nation and the best against the best. We have a good chance to be the best standing African team ahead of the powerful nations like Egypt.
“The most improved and promising lady player is Christine Makwena a detective with CID (Criminal Investigation Department) Harare. Chess is a game for women and that’s why we balance our numbers in terms of exposure.”
Aside from the Olympiad, Fide continental presidential elections, the Fide 89th congress and other important chess events will take place in Batumi.
Fide received bids to host the 2017 World Cup and the 2018 Olympiad from the national federations of Georgia and South Africa.
South Africa proposed Sun City and Durban as venues, while Georgia proposed Tbilisi and Batumi, respectively.
Although Garry Kasparov expressed support for the South African bid during Fide presidential campaign his Georgia’s bid won, after garnering 93 votes to South Africa’s 58.
Fide was founded in Paris, France, on July 20, 1924.
In 2016, the United States won the gold medal in the open event for the first time since 1976 and for the sixth time overall.
China won their fifth gold medal in the women’s event and the first since 1994 after winning the silver medal in the last three Olympiads.
Zimbabwe team
Men: Emerald Mushore, Spencer Masango, Rodwell Makoto, Thabo Elisha and Zhemba Jemusse.
Ladies: Christine Makwena Kudzanayi Charinda Collieta Wakuruwarehwa Paida Zengeni and Nomalungelo Mathe.
Ladies Captain Fungirirayini Mushaninga.
Teams Manager: Simbarashe Murimi
Head of Delegation: Acting Vice President Clive Mphambela.
