South Chess holds Presidential Youth Championship

Southern Region Chess League (SRCL) will this Saturday hold Presidential Youth Championship at Central High School in Blantyre.

The best players in the competition will represent Malawi at African Youth Championship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in August.

SRCL schools coordinator Magret Ngugama said only individuals within the age-range of five to 18 will be allowed to participate.

“We expect players from Zomba, Mulanje and Blantyre to take part in this contest that will not only help them improve their skills, but also grant them opportunity to carry the country’s flag in South Africa,” she said.

One of the SRCL prominent players Khwima Gondwe said he is ready for the challenge.

“I have been practising hard for the past three weeks and I am ready for the competition this weekend,” Gondwe said.

According to Ngugama, her league has built up the strongest chess base through the youth as evidenced by her charges’ performance during the juniors’ category event of the Presidential contest in Lilongwe, where they grabbed eight of the available 14 prizes.

“We are gaining ground as more schools show interest in this mental sport by setting up chess clubs and hiring chess trainers for their students,” she said. n