Tinashe Chinhanga is the first 2023 Blitz Champion

Tinashe Chinhanga was crowned the Harare Chess Blitz King at a tournament held on Saturday at The Harare Club Hotel in Harare. The Blitz Championship was the first in a series of Rated Blitz tournaments lined up for 2023 by The Harare Chess Organisation. Winning 10 out of a possible 11 Swiss rounds Chinhanga clinched the top spot ahead of 48 other participants.

Harare City’s WCM Kudzanai Charinda won the best female prize, while Danmore Mashava and Minerva’s Nicole Chibvuri were recognised as the best youngsters in the championship. The highlight of the tournament came when 3rd finisher Asante’s Irvine Machengedzero met 5th place finisher Tanaka Katsande of Chitown Masters Chess Club. Irvine defeated Tanaka in a pure genius style despite his time dropping to just 2 seconds against Tanaka’s 57 seconds.

For how long will Chinhanga hold on to the crown? Will the likes of FM Roy Mwadzura and Cyril Chigodo come out of the woods to wrestle the mettle away from him? We can only tell at the next Blitz Championship event whose date is yet to be announced. Until then, the Harare Chess community shall bow to His Majesty Tinashe Chinhanga.

Harare Chess Organisation wishes to thank all the 49 participants who made it to the event, the Zimbabwe Chess Federation for assisting with playing equipment and arbiters Lawrence Tavagwisa and IA Simbarashe Murimi who officiated at the flawless event.