ZIMBABWE’S Open and Women’s chess teams bounced back from difficult starts at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with both sides recording second round victories ahead of tougher assignments against Scotland and Denmark today.
The Women’s team produced the stronger response, sweeping Eswatini 4-0 just a day after suffering a similar defeat against a strong Polish side.
Christine Makwena, Woman Candidate Master Kudzanayi Charinda, Nomalungelo Mathe and 16-year-old Carol Ndlovu all won their games to give captain Tafadzwa Shanya-Million a perfect second round result.
It was a welcome turnaround after Zimbabwe had been handed a demanding opening assignment against Poland.
Makwena lost to International Master Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, while Charinda went down to International Master Klaudia Kulon. Mathe was beaten by Grandmaster Monika Socko, with Ndlovu losing to Woman Grandmaster Alicja Sliwicka.
Zimbabwe put those setbacks behind them against Eswatini, winning on all four boards to collect their first match victory of the tournament.
The Women’s team now faces Denmark, with Makwena taking on Woman FIDE Master Sarah Sima Derlich on board one.
Charinda faces Woman FIDE Master Ellen Kakulidis, Mathe meets Woman FIDE Master Anna Sofie Li, while Ndlovu takes on Woman FIDE Master Sofie Bech Durrfeld.
Zimbabwe’s Open team followed a similar path, recovering from a 3.5-0.5 defeat to Ukraine to edge the Bahamas 2.5-1.5.
Ukraine fielded four Grandmasters in the opening round, with Vitalis Mapuranga securing Zimbabwe’s only half point after holding Grandmaster Roman Dehtiarov to a draw.
FIDE Master Roy Mwadzura, Tapiwa Jele and Emarald Mushore all lost their opening games.
Mwadzura and Mushore responded with victories against the Bahamas, while Mapuranga added another draw to secure the match for Zimbabwe.
Jele suffered the team’s only defeat.
Captain Kudakwashe Sibanda’s charges now face Scotland in a match expected to provide a sterner examination of Zimbabwe’s recovery.
Mwadzura faces International Master Frederick Waldhausen Gordon, Jele takes on International Master Andrew Greet and Mushore meets International Master Konstantinos Megalios.
Mapuranga, who remains unbeaten after two rounds, faces FIDE Master Murad Abdulla on board four.
Zimbabwe also has representation at the Olympiad for People with Disabilities, where Tapiwa Allister Gora has emerged as the country’s leading individual performer with 4.5 points from seven games.
Gora’s campaign included an impressive opening round victory over Switzerland’s International Master Igor Yarmonov.
After opening defeats against significantly higher rated Polish and Ukrainian teams, the victories over Eswatini and the Bahamas have helped Zimbabwe steady its campaign.
