2015 Zimbabwe Open (Harare, Zimbabwe)

The 2015 Zimbabwe Open is currently taking place in the nation’s capital. The tournament has received the sponsorship of the Kasparov Chess Foundation and aspires to offer chances for the IM norm. The event will be taking place at the New Ambassador Hotel in Harare from 28th December until the 1st January 2016. According to a quote published by the Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe, Zim Chess President
Charles Kuwaza stated,

“This year’s tournament marks a turning point in Zimbabwe’s chess development because for the first time, the tournament will be a Fide-rated event, showing that Zimbabwe’s chess is now of international standard.”

The Chess Drum’s Daaim Shabazz with Charles Kuwaza of Zimbabwe
at 2014 Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

This tournament required players to have FIDE rating in excess of more than 2000+ and offered a prize pool of US$3500! In addition, there is also an tournament which offers a further US$1500 in prizes! Zambians dominate the list of top seeds and the top Zim players are absent.

2015 Zimbabwe Open 28 December 2015 – 1 January 2015 (Harare, Zimbabwe)
Participants
#	Name	Title	Federation	Flag	Rating
1	Kayonde Andrew	CM	Zambia		2361
2	Bwalya, Gillan	IM	Zambia		2313
3	Oatlhotse, Providence	IM	Botswana		2309
4	Chumfwa, Stanley	IM	Zambia		2307
5	Chumfwa, Kelvin	IM	Zambia		2283
6	Phiri, Richmond	IM	Zambia		2249
7	Mushore, Emarald		Zimbabwe		2201
8	Kaulule, Siame Kela		Zambia		2159
9	Chimbamu, Elisha		Zimbabwe		2157
10	Masango, Spencer		Zimbabwe		2148
11	Phiri, Gondwin		Zambia		2146
12	Jilowa, Tito		Zambia		2125
13	Munenga, Douglas		Zambia		2117
14	Kahoba, Lewis		Zimbabwe		2114
15	Sibanda, Kudakwashe		Zimbabwe		2107
16	Moyo, Dion James	CM	Zimbabwe		2083
17	Sibanda, Castro Bekithemba		Zimbabwe		2071
18	Abrantes, Persson	CM	Mozambique		2051
19	Dimba, James	CM	Zambia		2083
20	Janyure, Farai		Zimbabwe		2020
(Results, Games)