Mwale leads Durban team at SA Chess
South Africa-based chess maestro Joseph Mwale’s exceptional skills in the mental sport have been endorsed by Durban City Select team as he leads the outfit in the ongoing South Africa Inter-Provincial Chess Championships.
He has been given the honour of representing the four-player side on board one, which features the best and most aggressive chess players at any team event.
The four-day competition, which is taking place in Kimberly City since Thursday, is being contested by teams from South Africa’s seven provinces, namely, Durban, Pretoria, Western Cape, North Cape, Emhalazini, Limpopo and Johannesburg
The 21-year-old national chess champion is currently enjoying a rich form in Durban, where he won several tournaments, including the prestigious Nelson Mandela Championship and Greenwood Championship since he trekked down South two years ago.
During the Inter-Provincial contest, Mwale has so far lost two of his seven games, winning one and losing the other. He lost in his first match against Pretoria’s top seed Daniel Cawdrey before winning his second encounter against North Cape’s player.
As we went to press, he was taking on South Africa’ chess wizard Watu Kobese of Cape Town.
In an interview on Friday, Mwale said it is an honour to be entrusted with board one board in a foreign land. However, he said “this is as a result of my good rating and performance in all competitions I have participated in Durban.”
Chessam publicist Makhosi Nyirenda was impressed with the lad’s achievements in the foreign land, saying Mwale is putting Malawi’s name on the international map.
