Malawi Chess Team Ready for World Olympiad Challenge
The chess Olympiad was last held in Chennai, India, in 2022.
BLANTYRE, Malawi— The Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM) is confident in its team's performance at the upcoming World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, writes Steven Godfrey Mkweteza.
The 45th edition of the biennial event will take place from Sept. 10 to 23.
Francisco Mwangupili, CHESSAM's publicity secretary, said preparations are in full swing.
"We are committed to ensuring the national team is well-prepared through intensive training sessions and player welfare initiatives," he said.
To further enhance the team's readiness, CHESSAM is organizing training sessions this weekend in Lilongwe, where national players will compete against top players from across the country.
Additionally, players are receiving virtual training from a grandmaster appointed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
A total of 198 teams are registered for the open category and 184 for the women's category. CHESSAM has also scheduled a corporate chess tournament in Blantyre on Aug. 31 to generate support.
Companies can register teams of five players plus two reserves for a fee of K250,000.
Malawi's open team will feature Josephy Mwale, Chiletso Chipanga, Petros Mfune, Precious Kamwendo, and George Mwale.
The women's team consists of Susan Namangale, Tupokiwe Msukwa, Linda Jambo, Anne Simwaba, and Rachel Jayloss, the youngest player to qualify for the national team.
The delegation includes CHESSAM president Mpilo Mizere, Jonathan Ibrahim, Leonard Mbwana (open team captain), and Gift HowaHowa (women's team captain).
The chess Olympiad was last held in Chennai, India, in 2022.