SA, Zambia outshine Bots in Zone 4.3 chess tournament

Staff Writer | Monday May 13, 2013 00:00

Gillian Bwalya of Zambia is The 2013 Zone 4.3 Chess Tournament Open section champion with 8/9 points, with no game lost, and two draws from Botswana's Ignatious Njobvu and Thabo Vanvurel Gumpo. Kotov Rodwell Makoto of Zimbabwe came second with six points, followed by Deon Solomons of South Africa with six points and Botswana's IM Providence Oatlhotse also with six points.

Bwalya now qualifies to play at the World Cup and Africa Individual Chess Championships. He also qualified for IM title. Rodwell Makoto (Zimbabwe), Deon Solomons (South Africa) qualify for FM title. Thato Olebile (Botswana) qualifies for CM along with Calvin Klaasen (South Africa) CM. The titles will take effect after November 1.

In the women's section, Van Zyl Charlize of South Africa became The 2013 Zone 4.3 champion. She thus qualified to compete at this year's Africa Individual Championships to be held in Tunisia on May 17-28 and also qualifies for WIM title. She won gold for South Africa while Boikhutso Modongo and Thapelo Francis won silver and bronze medals for Botswana respectively.