Youngest chess player makes it into the senior national team

By Chansa Kunda

Seventeen-year-old NAOMI MWALE has become the first ever youngest female player to make it to the Chess Senior National team.

This is after MWALE  scooped top position in the Women’s Section of the National team playoffs beating nine other seasoned female competitors among them CONSTANCE MBATHA who was the highest rated occupying a Women FIDE Master title.

The Green Eagles player, NAMAKAU LIKANDO who finished in second position and MBATHA who was third will join LORITA MWANGO and LUBUTO MWALE to complete the list of the five female players in the Senior National team.

And in the Men’s Section, International Master ANDREW KAYONDE made a strong return to the national team after finishing top on 7.5 points.

KAYONDE who is six time National Champion, BONIFACE NG’ONGA and MICHAEL KAOMA join GILLIAN BWALYA as well as CHITUMBO MWALI as the five male senior National team players.

The total Number of Chess National team players to represent the Country in 2024 various competitions this year is 10.

Speaking to ZNBC Sports News after the end of the playoffs, MWALE said she is thrilled to make history after numerous attempts of trying to make it to the national team.

And KAYONDE has thanked the Chess Federation of Zambia -CFZ- for the transparent manner in which they select National team players.

CFZ President LESLIE CHIKUSE urged players that did not make it to the national team to continue working hard as there are numerous opportunities for them to still represent the Country.

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