TANAKA Katsande won the four-day 2023 CABS Candidates chess tournament held at Gifford High School, Bulawayo.
The Chitungwiza-based Katsande delivered an exceptional performance, resulting in a well-deserved victory over Timothy Mutsikwi in the final round.
With the victory, Katsande, a member of the Chitown Masters Chess Club, has earned a spot to compete in the 2024 National Championships.
The 21-year-old Katsande suffered his only defeat in an exciting endgame, where Batsirai Murapa outplayed him.
The Candidates tournament was intense, with some of Zimbabwe’s chess hopefuls demonstrating their skills in thrilling games.
Bismark Bhobhojani, a prominent figure within Zimbabwe’s chess community, put up a brave showing but fell short by a half-point of the winner. The eventual winner, Katsande, defeated him and then drew his final two rounds.
Four players were tied for second place in the tournament, scoring an impressive 7 points. Brian Dzvetera, Bhobhojani, Elvis Chaoma, and Dr Liberty Moyo demonstrated outstanding skills and secured the top ten spots.
Dzvetera of Old Mutual Chess Club and Bhobhojani, veterans of the game, demonstrated their experience as they navigated their way to the top ranks of the tournament.
Finishing in sixth place with 6.5 points was Rugare Muchena, followed closely by Batsirai Murapa, who showcased his skill by defeating the eventual tournament winner. Murapa secured a well-deserved spot in the top ten.
According to the final standings, Mutsikwi finished in 8th place after facing Katsande in the final round.
Bhobhojani expressed his appreciation for the organisers, praising the seamless execution of the tournament. He also thanked his supporters for their unwavering encouragement throughout the competition.
Reflecting on his performance, Bhobhojani shared his disappointment over the draws in his last two games. He noted the missed opportunity in the final match against Chaoma, acknowledging that it would have been better to secure a win rather than settle for a draw.
“I had two draws in the last two games but was mostly disappointed by the last one, which was easier to win than to draw the game against Elvis,” Bhobhojani revealed to EntersportNews.
“It was good but could’ve done better, and the tournament should be played over a few days so that participants can minimise expenses, especially those who travelled from outside Bulawayo.”
Hazel Masango exhibited exceptional chess skills in the Ladies Section and emerged as the rightful champion, leaving Sally Muringani in second place.
The CABS Candidates Tournament was a thriller that gave national team hopefuls a chance to stake a claim for a seat among the local chess heavyweights.
It serves as a qualifier for the Zimbabwe National Chess Championships. Mugove Muririma won last year’s Candidates tourney.
The 2023 CABS Candidates Tournament was sponsored by CABS in partnership with the Zimbabwe Chess Federation.
