Posted in Africa, Media Stories, The Chess Drum, Zimbabwe on Apr 29th, 2019 No Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Drum Majors, Media Stories, The Chess Drum, Zimbabwe on Jul 8th, 2017 6 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Media Stories, The Chess Drum, Zimbabwe on Jun 22nd, 2017 1 Comment »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Botswana, Photos, South Africa, Swaziland, The Chess Drum, Zambia, Zimbabwe on Jun 17th, 2017 3 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Drum Majors, Kenya, Media Stories, Scholastic, The Chess Drum, Zimbabwe on Apr 16th, 2017 No Comments »
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Posted in Africa, FIDE, Tournaments, Zimbabwe on Dec 29th, 2015 12 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Media Stories, Tournaments, Zambia, Zimbabwe on Jan 5th, 2015 No Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Olympiad, Tournaments, Videos, Zimbabwe on Mar 24th, 2014 1 Comment »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Tournaments, Zimbabwe on Dec 16th, 2012 5 Comments »
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 […]
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 […]
Posted in Africa, South Africa, Tournaments, Zimbabwe on Jul 13th, 2012 11 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe on Aug 15th, 2011 28 Comments »
IM Robert Gwaze is not the only Zimbabwean who can win nine games in a row in an important tournament. Rodwell Makoto won the Zimbabwean National Championship with a perfect 9/9. This dominance follows his credible showing at the African Individuals back in June. His strong showing may identify him as a rising talent in […]
Posted in Africa, Drum Majors, Zimbabwe on Feb 25th, 2011 12 Comments »
It has been almost nine years since IM Robert Gwaze won a gold medal by scoring a sizzling 9/9 at the 2002 Chess Olympiad. There has been question of his whereabouts and activities. Most of his fans would like to know what he is doing to pursue the Grandmaster (GM) title. Gwaze is currently in […]
Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe on Jan 19th, 2011 8 Comments »
IM-elect Farai Mandizha Zimbabwe’s Farai Mandizha tied for first place in the strong Liberty Bell Open this past weekend. GM Alexander Shabalov, GM Sergey Kudrin and IM Marc Esserman also score atop the field with 5.5/7. Mandizha earned his third IM norm last year and is still waiting on conferral of his title. In this […]
Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe on Dec 27th, 2010 17 Comments »
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) is hosting their Open Championship beginning New Year’s Day and hope attract the continent’s best and brightest players. The press release stated that more than 200 “mental gymnasts” are expected to compete. ZCF President Charles Kuwaza was optimistic about attracting a strong field. We have some of the best players […]
Posted in Africa, Drum Majors, Tournaments, World Open, Zimbabwe on Jul 7th, 2010 10 Comments »
Farai Mandizha is a long way from his home in Zimbabwe, but over the past few years has made a presence in the U.S. chess scene. Over this time he has made an impression in his New York base and has now achieved the difficult task of earning the International Master (IM) title in the […]
Posted in Africa, Drum Majors, Tournaments, Zimbabwe on Jun 24th, 2010 8 Comments »
Farai Mandizha has been on the U.S. tournament circuit a few years and has developed a reputation on the east coast. The New York-based player from Zimbabwe is perhaps known for his acute skills in blitz, but he has been putting together some solid results in major tournaments. Having a Hikaru Nakamura scalp on his […]
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