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Sports Reporter
Top International Masters will battle it out at the Masters Section of the Zimbabwe International Chess Open which runs from December 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016 at the New Ambassador Hotel in central Harare.

The event, which has been organised by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation in Association with the Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa and the Rainbow Tourism Group as official hosts, boasts a stellar line-up of Southern Africa’s top chess masters.

Zimbabwe Chess Federation president Charles Kuwaza said: “This year’s tournament marks a turning point in Zimbabwe’s chess development because for the first time, the tournament will be a Fide-rated event, showing that Zimbabwe’s chess is now of international standard.”

National tournament organiser and chief arbiter for the Zimbabwe Chess Federation Clive Mphambela said the event will go down in history as the strongest tournament in Southern Africa for the year as it features most of the big names in chess in the SADC region.

Zimbabwe’s charge will be led by South African-based International Master (IM) Rodwell Makoto, who is the reigning Zimbabwe national chess champion.

Olympic and All-Africa Games chess gold medallist IM Robert Gwaze is making a comeback to competitive chess after a two-year professional break, while United States-based IM Farai Mandizha together with locally-based fellows Zimbabwe national chess team players Emarald Mushore, Miles Cochrane, Elisha Chimbamu, Spencer Masango, Erick Takawira, Lewis Kahoba and Kudakwashe Sibanda will complete the team.

Zimbabwe will face stiff challenge from Zambia, who have confirmed that they will be sending a strong line-up comprising, International Masters Chitumbo Mwali and Gillan Bwalya, who is the reigning Zimbabwe Open chess champion after winning the 2014 edition.

IM Richmond Phiri, Kelvin Chumfwa, Stanley Chumfwa, Daniel Jere and Fide Master Andrew Kayonde also form part of the Zambian chess force.

South Africa will send IM Johannes Mabusela while Botswana have two top guns, IM Providence Oatlhotse and the highest rated chess player, Fide Master Olebile Thato.

The tournament will also feature an Open section, where local and foreign professional chess players, enthusiasts and scholars will battle it out for top honours.