Zimbabwe’s Roy Mwadzura Edges Out Rivals to Claim Minerva Chess Open
Zimbabwean FIDE Master (FM) Roy Mwadzura and FM Chola Musonda of Zambia emerged as the joint champions of the prestigious 2024 Minerva International Chess Open.
The two players finished the tournament with an impressive 8 points out of 9 games.
The title race came down to the wire, with Mwadzura’s superior tiebreak (Bucholz) score ultimately earning him the coveted gold medal.
Musonda, his Zambian opponent, claimed the silver medal.
Rounding out the podium was FM Banele Mhango of South Africa, who scored 7.5 points to clinch the bronze.
The Minerva Open attracted a strong lineup, including International Masters from Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.
Zimbabwe’s first black International Master (IM) Kudzanai Mamombe, Zambia’s Gillan Bwalya, and Botswana’s Providence Oathlotse were among the notable participants.
Last edition’s joint winner IM Bwalya, who missed the first round, eventually finished with 6.5 points from 8 games.
The tiebreaker match between Mwadzura and Musonda in the eighth round was a thriller, with Musonda forcing a draw through a perpetual check.
However, the two champions weathered the storm in their final-round games, with Mwadzura defeating fellow countryman and defending champion FM Zhemba Jemusse and Musonda overcoming IM Providence Oathlotse in a tense encounter.
In the women’s section, Refiloe Mudodo of Zambia emerged victorious, scoring an impressive 8.5 points out of 9 games.
Her performance was described as “top-drawer” and “scintillating,” with her dominant display captivating the online audience.
The Minerva Open witnessed a record-breaking turnout, with 200 participants.
The tournament was meticulously organized by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation and generously sponsored by Harare-based Minerva Risk Advisors.
International Arbiter Simbarashe Murimi was leading the team of arbiters, including FA Jarmil Ndoro and a dedicated group of volunteers.
The Minerva Open has once again cemented its reputation as a premier event in the chess calendar, attracting the finest players from the region.
