Nkwazi are the 2023 LPCA Club Chess Championships winners after pipping army outfit Red Arrows to first place in a tournament played over the weekend at the National Institute of Public Administrators (NIPA), Lusaka, Zambia.
For finishing first, Nkwazi walked away with 5000 Kwacha, a grand trophy, and gold medals. The formidable Red Arrows claimed the silver along with 3500 Kwacha, while Buffaloes settled for bronze, bagging 2500 Kwacha. Lusaka Chess Club earned a respectable fourth-place finish, securing 1500 Kwacha and certificates of participation.
The tournament was played in a round-robin format, with Lusaka’s premier chess clubs in two groups, A and B, battling for the coveted championship title.
In Group A, Nkwazi emerged dominant, steamrolling past the competition. Their impressive performance saw them trounce Lusaka Chess Club with a 5-1 score, decimate UNZA with a near whitewash of 5.5-0.5, and deliver similar blows to Green Eagles and Red Arrows B. The final standings of Group A witnessed Nkwazi leading the charge, followed closely by Lusaka Chess Club, UNZA, and Green Eagles.
Group B, however, was where fireworks truly ignited. Red Arrows A stole the show, sealing three victories. Their triumphant streak included notable wins over Green Buffaloes, Yosofo Kings, and a merciless 6-0 shutout against Liyoca Chess Club. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing; Ultimate Chess Academy gave Red Arrows a run for their money, resulting in a nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat 3.5-2.5 victory for the Academy.
Post-group stages, the intensity ramped up in the quarter-finals. Buffaloes squared off against UNZA, with the former coming out victorious.
At the same time, International Master Chitumbo Mwali’s Red Arrows A team dismantled Green Eagles with a comfortable 5-1 victory, paving their way to the semi-finals.
Lusaka Chess Club’s encounter with Ultimate Chess Academy was pulsating, with both sides drawing their match. This led to a blitz tie-breaker where Lusaka’s resilience eventually outmatched the Academy’s spirited performance.
The semi-finals were nothing short of epic. Red Arrows edged past Buffaloes with a 3.5-2.5 win, setting up a final clash against their fierce rivals, Nkwazi.
Both clubs approached the finals with steely determination. However, Nkwazi emerged victorious with a 4-2 scoreline in a more evenly fought match than the numbers suggest, with draws on boards one, two, five, and six.
Among the highlights was the much-anticipated clash between International Masters Richmond Phiri and Chitumbo Mwali, which ended in a draw.
It’s worth highlighting the masterful event organization by Mr Mulenga and the committed executives of the Lusaka Province Chess Association, who ensured the championship was both riveting and seamlessly executed.
