Can Immortals overcome their HPCL 2024 Challenge?

Immortals Chess Club have added five new signings to their squad this season. This comes amid concerns of poor results recorded in the previous two seasons despite having one of the strongest squads in the HPCL.

The new signings are Spencer Masango (2118), Elisha Thabo (2057), Emmanuela Rabvu (1948), Elvis Chaoma (1902), and Nigel Chinoera (Unrated). These new signings once again make the Immortals the strongest team on paper in the league, with an average team rating of 1794.

Immortals Chess Club will be facing the reigning champions Chitown Masters Chess Club in an HPCL 2025 fixture that is expected to be a thrilling battle of wits. However, Immortals are not favourites to win this tie due to a history of losing because of players who fail to turn up for games.

ICC have met Chitown four times in the past two seasons. The best result was a draw in the first leg of 2023. Since then they have lost every subsequent tie. One thing that has stood out in all the 3 losses is that Immortals always have missing players on the day.

This could be what the club is trying to address with their new signings. Will it work? We all wait to see how ICC will handle this weekend.