THE fourth Minerva International Chess Open in Zimbabwe marked a power shift, with Fide Master (FM) Roy Mwadzura and Women Candidate Master (WCM) Refiloe Mudodo winning the Open and Women’s sections, respectively.
In the Open Section, FM Mwadzura proved his growing strength in Southern African chess, clinching the title with an unbeaten 8/9 score. He pipped Zambian FM Chola Musonda, who also tallied 8 points, on the tiebreak. South Africa’s FM Banele Mhango secured third place with 7.5 points.
The defending champion, FM Jemusse Zhemba, could not retain his title, enduring two losses at the hands of the tournament’s joint winners to finish in fourth position with 7 points. International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse of Botswana rounded out the top five with the same score.
The event was not without its surprises, as the top seed and 2023 joint winner, IM Gillan Bwalya of Zambia, struggled to find his rhythm and ended up in 14th place with 6.5 points after losing by a walkover in the first round.
In the Women’s Section, the young WCM Refiloe Mudodo reigned supreme, concluding with an almost flawless score. Her sole setback was a draw with the runner-up, Linda Shaba, who secured 7 points.
Defending champion WCM Kudzanayi Charinda succumbed to Mudodo’s aggressive play and ended up in ninth place. Meanwhile, Otimile Maya from Botswana secured third place with a score of 6.5 points.
Godwin Mudiwa, the Human Resources Director of Minerva Risk Advisors Group, put it eloquently: “Chess is a game of strategy, skill, and intellect.”
This statement captures the spirit of the Minerva International Chess Open, now a highlight on the Southern African chess circuit.
The tournament which drew approximately 200 participants from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa, was organized by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation and sponsored by Minerva Risk Advisors, a partnership that Mudiwa praised for its professionalism and the positive impact it has had on the sport in the region.
The closing ceremony was marked by Mudiwa’s heartfelt remarks, highlighting the importance of the tournament and the enduring relationship between Minerva and the Zimbabwe Chess Federation. He emphasized the common ground between the insurance and risk management industry and the strategic nature of chess, making the partnership a natural fit.
“Chess is a game of strategy. It’s a game of skill. It’s a game of intellect.
And it rhymes very well with us because we are in strategy, we are in skill, we are in risk management. Minerva is about managing your risk. It’s about insurance,” Mudiwa said.
” It’s about healthcare. It’s about pensions. And because our businesses have something in common, we felt that this partnership is one that we should beg for a very long time.”
