2023 Harare Pro-Chess League set for launch

The Harare Pro-Chess League will launch the 2023 season tomorrow, Saturday 15 April 2023 at The Harare Club Hotel in the capital city of Zimbabwe. Set to be the first FIDE-rated league in the country the league has attracted chess clubs from colleges, corporates and the local suburban communities.

Harare Pro-Chess League 2023 season will see twelve (12) teams battling it out for top honours. Defending champions Harare City Chess Club seek to win their 3rd title in 4 years. New kids are on the block in the form of the Immortals Chess Club, and a youthful Minerva Chess Club which seeks to upset the seasoned heavyweights.

Minerva’s 12-year-old Nicole Chibvuri will be the youngest player in the tournament. She will face experienced players such as the 2023 Steward Bank Easter Open Tournament winner Emerald Mushore, and the 2022 CABS Candidates champion Mugove Muririma. Asked why they braved such a young squad Minerva Chess Club Secretary Tapiwa Rusere had this to say:

“As Minerva, we sponsor the Minerva Zimbabwe Open Chess Tournament (organised by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation) and Chess in Zimbabwe Prisons. As part of our CSR initiatives we assist in the development of chess in Zimbabwe and to succeed we need to start with the young people. Chess is an addictive sport and once the youth are addicted to chess, social problems such as illicit drug abuse will be prevented. For us, it is not about winning but changing the lives of young people.”

What does a FIDE-rated Harare Pro-Chess League mean for the country?

“Chess has for too long been treated as a hobby in this country, this paradigm shift will create a source of livelihood for the players as well as for the administrators. A rated league increases the competitive field for the players to up their game. The country will now have a wider rating pool of strong active players” International Arbiter Simbarashe Murimi weighed in.

The Harare Club situated at the intersection of Nelson Mandela and Third Street will have the honour of witnessing the making of history. You too can be part of it, let’s meet there!