ZAMBIAN International Master Gillian Bwalya came out on top at the 2025 JR Mawere Open chess tournament held in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. Bwalya finished with 6.5 points after winning five games and drawing three, edging out tough competition in a closely contested event.
IM Bwalya drew with Zimbabwe’s Terrence Mureya, Kenneth Ruchaka, and Justin Daka all strong players in their own right. “It was very competitive. Chess is truly played over the board, and this win didn’t come easy,” Bwalya said.
IM Bwalya was tied in first position with Mugove Muririma, Terrence Mureya, and Zambians Michael Kaoma and Justin Daka. However he had a better buccholz.
Just half a point behind were Terrence Mureya and South Africa’s Soojay Jorah, who both finished with 6 points. The field was stacked, and players battled it out on every board in what turned out to be one of the most competitive editions of the JR Mawere Open.
In the women’s section, Zimbabwe’s Tanaka Dziyanyi was in a class of her own. She scored 7 out of 8 points, only dropping half-points in draws against Linda Shaba and Christine Makwena — two of the top-rated players in the field.
Based in Zambia, Dziyanyi has been quietly building a reputation with her consistent performances across regional tournaments. In Malawi recently, she came second to Shaba by just half a point. In Kwekwe, she showed her class by defeating Colleta Wakuruwarewa, another national team regular.
Wakuruwarewa and Naomi Mwale also ended the event with the same number of points. Still, Colleta claimed second place after beating Naomi in the final round — a match where she only needed a draw to seal the runner-up spot, or a win to tie for first.
The event, which ran from July 11 to 13, was smoothly run and well-attended. International Arbiter Aaron Banda of Zambia oversaw proceedings, assisted by FA Blessing Jemani and FA Gift Bwalya. The chief organiser, Itai Madicha, was praised for pulling off a successful tournament that brought together strong players from Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, and Malawi.
