HPCL Players shine at the 2024 Zimbabwe International Open Chess Tournament

The 2024 Zimbabwe International Open Chess Tournament was won by Harare Professional Chess League (HPCL) players. FM Roy Mwadzura of Waterfalls Chess Club triumphed in the open section while In the ladies’ section, Woman Candidates Master (WCM) Refiloe Mudodo of Harare City Chess Club made history winning the tournament with an impressive 8/9 points, without losing a single game.

The tournament saw other notable performances including IM Providence Oatlhotse from Botswana, who finished joint 4th and FM Banele Mhango from RSA who scored an impressive 7.5/9 points. International Master (IM) Gillian Bwalya, popularly known as “Captain Charlie,” has been a dominant force in regional chess, crossing the 2400 Elo mark in 2020. However, at this year’s tournament HPCL players showed that they are no longer intimidated by the Zambians.

The Harare Professional Chess League has been providing the much needed platform for players to hone their skills, through weekly games hence making them ready to take on the best in the region. The HPCL players’ performance reflects their growth, confidence and strategic thinking. With the league’s inception in 2023, Zimbabwean chess has witnessed a resurgence with players now competing week-in, week-out, every Saturday at Harare Club Hotel.

With the ZCF’s support the HPCL has created a platform for local players to shine and their success will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of chess enthusiasts.

About the Zimbabwe International Open Chess Tournament

The 2024 Zimbabwe International Open Chess Tournament was sponsored by Minerva Risk Advisers and attracted players from all over the SADC region. The event which was hosted by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) featured star players from Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Malawi and Zambia