INTERNATIONAL Master (IM) Rodwell Makoto is set to represent Zimbabwe at the Russia World Cup scheduled for July.
The event will take place from July 10 to August 3.
IM Makoto’s appearance will be the third time a Zimbabwean has represented the country at this international showcase.
IM Robert Gwaze represented the country twice after winning the Zonals held in Botswana and Namibia.
However, IM Makoto was selected after Zimbabwe qualified to send a participant when the nation emerged as the second-best African country at the 2018 Batumi Olympiad.
The 33-year-old chess master has an impressive record locally where he is a five-time national champion and on the international arena, he won the prestigious SA Open in 2012 and was named the Sports Man of the Year in the same year.
Makoto expects tough competition and believes he will face a super Grandmaster in the first round.
“The pairing hasn’t been released yet, but most likely, I will play the top grandmasters in the first round,” Makoto told EnterSportNews.
The South Africa based former national champion does not have a coach to help him prepare for the event.
“Currently, I’m working by myself, which is tough. However, I will contact a few friends who have been there for some tips,” he added.
Despite the challenges in his path to the prestigious single-elimination tournament, IM Makoto has high hopes of proceeding to the next round.
“I will do my best to progress onto the next round. Otherwise, I might as well stay at home,” he said.
About 206 players will be playing in Sochi, Russia, at this year’s World Cup.
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