By Decide Nhendo
15-year-old Rutendo Hwede from Temeraire High School in Mashava raised the provincial flag higher when she scooped a gold medal in the Under 16 girls chess in the National Association of School Heads (NASH) competitions after taking lead from Round Five up to Round Nine undefeated with only two draws in Rounds Seven and Eight.
The national competitions were held at Chipindura High School in Bindura on March 28, 2024.
Last year the province failed to get gold or silver at the same competitions held at Cheziya High School in Gokwe, but Hwede and her colleague Tafadzwa Sithole from Hippo Valley High who won a bronze medal in the boys under 20 changed the story for the better.
Temeraire High School chess team coach Moses Kujinga whose three learners won gold medals at the provincial chess competitions held in Zaka told this publication that the NASH chess national tournament was very tough but Rutendo managed to be on top.
“We went to the national tournament with three pupils all from Temeraire who had scooped gold medals at provincial level. The national competitions were tough but Rutendo sailed through,” said Kujinga.
Kujinga said the team lacked exposure to other tournaments for practice that is why they were dominated by other provinces in previous tournaments and it was through intelligence that Hwede managed to bag a gold medal.
“Chess has been dominated by other provinces and I think it is because we lack exposure to some tournaments such as Crystal Candy and J Mawere which learners use as launch pad and warm up to sharpen their minds and skills since it is a mind game.
“Rutendo is an exceptional pupil with high mental prowess and very good calculating abilities and this helped to come tops this year. She has booked a place to the competitions to be held in South Africa and Brazil. This has proved that girls can do it if they are supported,” said Kujinga.
He lamented days of Richard Knottebelt, Mr Mutakaya who was at Gokomere and the late Mr Jaravani from Silveira who used to organize tournaments like Groombridge where learners practiced in preparation of big competitions.
He also said teachers and schools in Masvingo province must support chess in their schools and the girl child to promote the sport than the ordinary sports like soccer.
Mashonaland East Province were crowned the 2024 NASH chess champions with five medals; three gold, one silver and one bronze.
Midlands Province came second with two gold, three bronze and three silver medals. Masvingo came on number nine with two medals one gold and one bronze.
NASH head of chess Reverend Elijah Mazula said he was happy with the way the tournament went on and the level of competition has improved immensely with each province getting a medal.
“The competition was very tough and all the provinces managed to walk away with at least a medal.
“The winners managed to get a ticket to represent the country at the upcoming All Africa Chess Championship in South Africa in July as well as World Youth Chess Championships in Brazil if they conquer Africa,” said Mazula.
