Left to right: Susan Namangale (CHESSAM President), Priyasha Shriyan, Dr. Sunduzwayo Madise (Malawi National Sports Council Board Chairman), FM Joseph Mwale and Tapiwa Banda
The Malawi National Chess Championship, organized by CHESSAM, took place from April 14-18, 2022, at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu (Malawi's Northern Region).
The championship started with regional qualifiers back in November 2021, with three regions selecting the top 16 players (eight in the open category and eight in the women category).
Grand Palace Hotel, Mzuzu, Malawi. Photo: Francisco Mwangupili
A total of 39 players (including presidential nominees) participated in the final stage of the championship (26 players in the open category and 13 players in the women category). Both events were 9-round Swiss tournaments.
In the open category, FM Joseph Mwale, Malawi's highest-rated player (2151) was coming into the final round as the clear leader with 6.5 points, needing only a draw to claim the title and trophy. He did draw his last-round against CM Joseph Nyambalo and clinched the first position with 7 points.
Stanford Chiwambo CM Joseph Nyambalo finished just a half-point behind tied for the second place. The silver went to Stanford as the winner of their direct encounter.
In the women's category, 16-year old Shriyan Priyasha dominated the competition, scoring 8/9. Her only hiccup occurred in Round 5 when Shriyan lost to ninth-rated Tapiwa Banda. Still, a strong finish helped her to secure the title with a round to spare.
The runner-up Tapiwa Banda, the only player to defeat the champion, netted 6/9 points, enough to claim silver. Three players shared third place scoring 5.5 points each, with bronze going to Tupokiwe Msukwa, who beat her opponents in the direct encounters.
The Malawi Championship was also a qualification tournament for the national teams to represent the country at the 44th Chess Olympiad this summer. The top-5 finishers in both sections made the cut.
Malawi's national teams
Final standings Open
|
1 |
Mwale, Joseph |
2151 |
7 |
|
2 |
Chiwambo, Stanford |
1875 |
6½ |
|
3 |
Nyambalo, Josephy |
2037 |
6½ |
|
4 |
Matola, Ernest |
1947 |
6 |
|
5 |
Chimthere, Alfred |
2048 |
6 |
|
6 |
Mphungu, Gerald |
2084 |
6 |
|
7 |
Mwale, George |
2049 |
5½ |
|
8 |
Mkamanga, Rumbani |
1754 |
5½ |
|
9 |
Mwangupili, Franscisco |
1874 |
5 |
|
10 |
Nthala, Bright |
1721 |
5 |
Final standings Women
|
1 |
Priyasha, Shriyan |
1583 |
8 |
|
2 |
Banda, Tapiwa |
1114 |
6 |
|
3 |
Msukwa, Tupokiwe |
1371 |
5½ |
|
4 |
Jambo, Linda |
1450 |
5½ |
|
5 |
Kapalamula, Martha |
1155 |
5½ |
|
6 |
MpinganjIra, Ellen |
1360 |
4½ |
|
7 |
Namangale, Susan |
1301 |
4½ |
|
8 |
Msiska, Royce |
1271 |
4½ |
|
9 |
Tadeyo, Charity |
1096 |
4 |
|
10 |
Khanyera, Madalitso |
0 |
3½ |
