Mdina to rope in partners in chess tournament

South Africa-based chess sponsor Tiwone Mdina says he will accommodate two more partners ahead of next year’s Mdina International tournament.

The engineering entrepreneur said about five individuals have approached him to consider supporting the international tournament.

“We will only accommodate serious requests. We don’t want individuals or organisations whose impact or value will not be felt by the players. So, those partners, who are willing to make an impact, are the ones we are going to accommodate. Currently, we are on budgeting stage and we will reveal our budget shortly,” he said.

Mdina said being the last championship he wants the event to leave behind an indelible mark.

“We already made a commitment that we want next year’s winner in open section to receive K1 million. This will be the last sponsored chess tournament by Mdina and it shall be the ultimate. This is why we have started planning now to make it big,” he said.

Fide Master Joseph Mwale is the defending champion having rescued Malawi’s battered reputation in the event after players from Zambia dominated in the championship on three successive occasions.

Mwale has since appealed to Mdina to seriously consider extending the sponsorship, saying it has helped improve the standards of the sport.

Last year’s tournament attracted a record of 91 players with players from Zambia and Mozambique taking part.

Valued at K4.4 million, Mdina International tournament is the richest chess tournament on the domestic scene. During the championship which was held in winter, Mdina also supplied players and Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) officials with winter-tops. n