Malawi has first rated female chess players

Vitumbiko Gondwe and Royce Msiska have been rated by the mental sport’s world governing body, Fide following their exploits during last month’s World Chess Olympiad in Norway.

The two, who were among the various chess players and officials who attended the event, performed beyond the organisations’ expectations.

Gondwe has joined the rankings’ list with a rating of 1505 while Msiska has a rating of 1242.

This means Gondwe is the highest rated female player in the country, according to Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) president Kezzie Msukwa, who also attended the event.

“Congratulations to the first women rated players for Malawi. Well done ladies,” wrote Msukwa on his Facebook wall at the weekend.

Despite Joseph Nyambalo facing a drop on his rating from 2 091 to 2 056, he remains the country’s highest ranked male player in as far as the chess sport is concerned.

Gerald Mphungu, who has just attained the Fide master title is the biggest climber on the rankings as he has moved 97 points to a rating of 2 027.

He is currently Malawi’s third best rated chess player.