Despite upsets, Egypt take gold! Zimbabweans Rodwell Makoto and Emarald Mushone chat before their first round game against Eritrea. They would win their games, but the were more proud of the wins they got in round six. Photo by Mohamed Bounaji/FIDE What a finish in the first chess event ending with the Egyptians edging the […]
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It is rare that one gets a perfect score in a chess tournament. The most famous example is Bobby Fischer’s 11/11 at the 1963-64 U.S. Championship in New York City. As a result, he got an interview on the cover of Life magazine. Spencer Masango of Zimbabwe will have to settle for coverage in African-oriented […]
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Farai Mandizha (Zimbabwe)Photo by David Llada Over the years, IM Farai Mandizha has made strides since coming from Zimbabwe nearly a decade ago. Initially, he developed a reputation for his blitz skills, but as he developed a plan for earning his titles, he focused more on incremental improvements. In this time he has earned his […]
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Charles Kuwaza On April 18th, Charles Tawonerera Kuwaza fell to his death from the 9th-story of the Club Chambers building on the corner of 3rd Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue. The question of Kuwaza’s tragic death has been whether it was a suicide (as initially reported) or whether he was assassinated and pushed from the […]
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On the campus of University of Cape Town There are many ways to describe the African continent. Some know it as the “Cradle of Civilization” and by others as the “Dark Continent.” Rest assured, this massive land mass has a complicated history, but its complexity may be softened by the sheer diversity and beauty. Each […]
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IM Rodwell Makotoaddresses students in Nairobi, Kenya IM Rodwell Makoto is the latest Master to participate in the African Tour sponsored by the Paul Allen Foundation and organized by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and MiniChess Kenya. He follows GM Kenny Solomon who visited Kenya in February. GM Pontus Carlsson and IM Daniel Jere also conducted […]
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Posted in Africa, Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Republic of Africa, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, FIDE, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Media Stories, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Olympiad, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe on Sep 1st, 2016 12 Comments »
Today the 2016 Olympiad games will officially open with the Opening Ceremonies with 181 teams representing 176 countries. Many of these countries represent the best that each country has to offer. Within the last decade that generally meant a permanent balance of power tilting to Western Europe and North America. With the emergence of Asian […]
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Posted in Africa, Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Drum Majors, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tournaments, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe on Jan 19th, 2016 4 Comments »
African continental President Lewis Ncube and African Chess Confederation the has released the chess calendar for the 2016 year. It encompasses all the major events, but may include others that have yet to be posted. A number of young federations are being thrust into organizing events in order to get them needed experience for growing […]
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Posted in Africa, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Drum Majors, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Media Stories, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe on Dec 30th, 2015 2 Comments »
After the contentious Presidential election of the World Chess Federation (known as FIDE) in 2014 featuring incumbent President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and former World Champion Garry Kasparov, the future of the African continent was in serious question. Little had been done in past decades to provide the continent with firm footing to develop consistent programs. Ethiopian […]
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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 […]
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IM Gillian Bwalya Zambia has proven to be one of the most promising federations in sub-Saharan Africa. Having produced the first GM in the region in Amon Simutowe, the players have established quite a tradition and showed their mettle in the 2010 Olympiad coming in 47th after being ranked 121st. However, their neighbor Zimbabwe has […]
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Can Robert Gwaze resurrect the magic from 2002? Photo by Cathy Rogers. Zimbabwe has named its team to compete in the 2014 Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. The team consists of veterans and newcomers alike. IM Robert Gwaze will lead the tables for Zimbabwe as he will play in his 5th Olympiad. It was in […]
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From Clive Mphambela on Facebook… Friends please note that the Zim Open is on 29th Dec to 1st January 2013. Entry Fees are $10.00 Adults $5.00 Scholars. $20.00 will be paid by Visitors. IM’s Chitumbo Mwale, Gwaze, Mabusela, FM Makoto Are invited and will be exempt from entry fees. They will be paid for by […]
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Posted in Botswana, England, Ethiopia, India, Interviews, Jamaica, Media Stories, Olympiad, South Africa, Suriname, Tournaments, Turkey, USA, Zimbabwe on Sep 22nd, 2012 5 Comments »
Olympiad tournaments are full of interesting personalities ranging from professional players, to enthusiastic organizers and to national champions in tiny chess countries. IM Kenneth Solomon The Chess Drum was able to get 12 interviews during the 40th Chess Olympiad including its third with three-time Olympic champion Levon Aronian. Please sit back and enjoy these short […]
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Rodwell Makoto of Zimbabwe won the 2012 South African Open with superior tiebreaks over IM Johannes Mabusela, GM Ahmed Adly and Daniel Cawdery. All ended with 9/11. Makoto finished undefeated and drew with both Adly and GM Antonio Fernandes. Adly was upset by Craig Bornheim in the shock of the tournament and could not overtake […]
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.jpg "Triple Exclam!!! The Life and Games of Emory Tate, Chess Warrior")
.jpg "Carlsson Chess Training!")
