2024 CABS Candidates Chess Tournament exceeds expectations
The 2024 CABS Candidates Chess Tournament ended on a high note on Sunday after 9 rounds in the Open Section which was won for the second year running by Tanaka Katsande of Chi-town Masters chess club. Katsande tied on 8 points with Castro Sibanda whom he edged due to a direct encounter tie break.
Ropafadzo Dube emerged the champion on the ladies section ahead of 29 other participants while Nathan Moyo was crowned the U16 Prestige section winner.
Previous CABS Candidates Winners
| YEAR | OPEN SECTION | LADIES SECTION | JUNIORS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tanaka Katsande | Ropafadzo Dube | Nathan Moyo |
| 2023 | Tanaka Katsande | Hazel Masango | Kelvin Tadisa Jnr |
| 2022 | Mugove Muririma | Nomalungelo Mathe | Tapiwa Muyambo |
The 3rd edition of the 2024 CABS Candidates Chess Tournament exceeded attendance expectations by surpassing the 2 previous editions. The tournament which was held at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo over the weekend recorded 191 participants which was 95% more than 2023 and 36% more than 2022 participants. See below level of participation over the years
Candidates Participation over the years
| SECTION | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPEN SECTION | 122 | 65 | 80 |
| LADIES SECTION | 29 | 15 | 32 |
| JUNIORS/PRESTIGE | 40 | 18 | 28 |
| TOTAL | 191 | 98 | 140 |
We join the Zimbabwe chess fraternity in extending gratitude and acknowledgement to CABS for sponsoring the Candidates Chess Tournament. Sponsorship partners are not easy to come by in this difficult economic environment and CABS have been steadfast since 2022.
The winners of the 2024 CABS Candidates Chess Tournament earned a reserved qualification slot on the 2025 National Championship on top of other accolades such as trophies and cash prizes.
