THE Zimbabwe women’s chess team put on an impressive show in the fourth round of the Budapest 45th Chess Olympiad, decimating Pakistan 4-0.
On board one, Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Kudzanayi Charinda, secured a convincing victory against Pakistan’s Shah Sehba.
On board two, the ever-reliable Christine Makwena was in brilliant form, unleashing a ferocious attack with the white pieces against WCM Wasif Zenobia, collecting a crucial point for the Zimbabwean side.
The lower boards saw equally dominant performances, with Linda Shaba and Tatenda Zengeni both winning their games to complete the team’s resounding 4-0 victory.
Zimbabwe’s women will now turn their attention to an even sterner test in the next round, as they prepare to square off against a much stronger Albanian team.
Captain Agab Dozva has made the bold decision to rest key player Makwena, perhaps with an eye on preserving his star performer for the challenges that lie ahead.
While the women’s team was celebrating their success, the Zimbabwe men’s side experienced a tougher outing, succumbing to a 4-0 whitewash at the hands of Colombia.
The Zimbabwean lineup featured International Masters (IM) Farai Mandizha and Rodwell Makoto. Veteran Emarald Mushore and Vitalis Mapuranga, simply had no answer for the Colombian juggernaut, which boasted three Grandmasters and an International Master.
Mandizha, known for his tenacity, fought hard against GM Roberto Pantoja and managed to reach an endgame with opposite-coloured bishops, rook and pawns, which seemed to hold promise of a draw.
However, the wily Colombian opponent outmanoeuvred Mandizha, forcing him to blunder under time pressure and leave his king in a precarious position, leading to a decisive defeat.
The Zimbabwean men’s team will now regroup and prepare for their next encounter against Libya in the fifth round, hoping to bounce back from this setback
