Malawi Tournament Chooses Players for the All Africa Games

This event in Malawi got Sports Page coverage in its home country, when chess in the USA can't BUY coverage! Hooray for the winners, and I wish them luck in the All Africa Games. A perennial problem for chessplayers - funding to attend important international events - is mentioned in the article, too. In Malawi, though, it seems the government may provide funding for the players to attend the All Africa Games; in the USA, we're dependent upon the USCF (ha ha!), parents, friends, and the kindness of sponsors! From the Malawi Daily Times Jambo wins women chess championship BY MPHATSO MALIDADI 11:01:58 - 16 August 2007 Unheralded Linda Jambo emerged as women chess queen after shrugging off resistance from defending champion Susan Namangale during the All Africa games selection tournament that was held in Lilongwe on Saturday. The Mzuzu University student, showing her guts and guile, accumulated five points to top the competition. The unstoppable player rounded up her impressive showing by defeating Namangale, who ended on second position with four points. Another budding chess star Royce Msiska ended third with three points while Caroline Mwale, sister to 14-year-old national champion Joseph Mwale, finished fourth. Women's junior champion Ellyn Mpinganjira was the notable face that failed to impress despite representing Malawi at various competitions across the southern Africa when she finished at a disappointing sixth position. Chess Association of Malawi president Kezzie Msukwa described the event as a success but he paid more tribute to the winner, who was outstanding during the tournament. “Her performance was very impressive," Msukwa said. "She was playing with purpose. She made some wonderful moves and most importantly she made sacrifices which in the end worked for her.” Msukwa also believes the top two women, who will join three men - Henry Matewere, Alfred Chinthere and Kajani Kaunda in representing the nation in Namibia - can do better at the event if they get adequate preparation. However, the Chessam president expressed his concern over the delay in passing budget following the current stand off between government and opposition parties in Parliament, saying this would greatly affecting their plans to camp the team before leaving for Namibia. “We only hope that the budget will be allowed to pass so that our program should go as planned,” he said.