He led the 10-member pack of the men’s A category into the finals.

The 21-year-old accumulated 5.5 points after winning five of his six matches and drew once against his runner-up, former national champion Kajani Kaunda who finished with 4 points in the 40-player contest.

Kaunda had the same points as Joseph Nyambalo, Charles Chiwaya, Gerald Mphungu, Mayamiko Pemba, Chiletso Chipanga and James Kamowa, who emerged third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. But Kaunda’s superiority came through a buccholz tiebreaker. Allan Mambulasa and Makhosi Nyirenda completed the list with 3.5 points each.

But for Mwale, the seat of the contest is a clear sign that his title drought is finally coming to an end.

“It has been a while since I tasted the great feeling of winning a competition. During these two days, I managed to beat great players and I am determined to maintain this winning streak as the finals begin in the next two weeks,” said Mwale.

In men’s B category, Festus Kayenda went on top with 5 points, the same as second-placed Raymond Phiri. Francis Nyasulu and John Nkumba reked 4.5 points each to respectively share the third and fourth points.

Shadreck Mhone, Nedson Mhone, Mphatso Nyirenda, Diston Chosaine, Gift Kavule and Howard Kumitawa completed the list of qualified players into the finals.

Qualifiers in the Central and Northern regions are expected to be held this weekend, according to Southern Region Chess League (SRCL) chairperson Mess Leagae Susan female players have automatically made it to the finals.

With 4.5 points from six games during the two-day finals, Kamowa did not only manage to win the Lab chess crown for the fifth time since 2007, but also prevented Alfred Chimthere from becoming the first player to defend the men’s A category title in the last five events.

Former champions Kajani Kaunda, Chuma Mwale, Gerald Mphungu and Chimthere accumulated four points each, but after a buccholz tie-breaker, the four shared the second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Other prominent players Joseph Mwale, Joseph Nyambalo and candidate master Chiletso Chipanga found this particular contest a hard nut to crack as they were thrown to the undesirable sixth, seventh and ninth positions in that order.

“I think this, is my best achievement ever. The competition was extremely tough and emerging a winner among such good players is quite satisfying,” said Kamowa.

Raymond Chitedze won the men’s B category with five points while John Mkumba and Shadreck Mhone amassed four points each to take the second and third slots respectively. Vitumbiko Gondwe won the accolade in the ladies section with six points followed by former champion Ellen Mpinganjira [five points] and Caroline Mwale [four points].

Southern Region Chess League (SRCL) chairperson Susan Namangale and Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) honorary member Joseph Chalemba thanked Lab Enterprises for the support since 2007.

The company’s representative Chancy Mangata hinted that the sponsorship might be increased next year.

For the last three editions, nobody managed to defend the title due to stiff competition among the heavyweights and the fast-improving skills of up-and-coming players. The last three editions were won by Joseph Mwale, Richard Chiona and James Kamowa respectively.

The three former champions have also made it into the finals this time around, thereby casting doubt on the prospects of Nyambalo defending the crown. But the 19-year-old Che-Mussa resident said he is set to prove doubting Thomases wrong.

“I spent a lot of time at home to perfect my skills, especially the opening moves because I know it is no longer easy to defend a title nowadays. I have read a number of chess books from which I have learnt some new tricks,” Nyambalo said.

During the finals, Nyambalo will represent the Southern Region alongside Kamowa, Chiona, Edgar Khan, Goodson Kapena, Makhosi Nyirenda, Stanley Mpinganjira, Innocent Bamusi and Rumbani Mkamanga.

According to Southern Region Chess League (SRCL) chairperson Susan Namangale, the Central Region will have Mwale and Khama Chindole as ambassadors while the North will be represented by Kondwani Nyirenda and Wilson Banda.

Namangale said the contest for the men’s B category will be among Stepples Jere, Duncan Manda, Steve Chingondo, John Bosco and Ted Chiwaula whereas all female players will be allowed to fight in the ladies’ section.

At a press briefing on Friday, the hotel’s general manager Rizvaan Osman said the winner of the men’s A category will have a dinner for two at their Aamari Restaurant while the men’s B and the female section champions will taste the luxurious cuisines at their Blue Savanna Food Court. 

“We are spicing-up this Lab chess competition at a cost of K120 000 and we are very proud to be associated with this sport,” he said.

Osman, who was the Cricket Union of Malawi chairperson from 2000 to 2006, could not promise much on their assistance towards chess saying that would be determined by the progress of their business.

While thanking the hotel for their kind gesture, Southern Region Chess League (SRCL) chairperson, Susan Namangale, said that the prizes that the hotel has offered to the winners of the competition will come on top of the usual K15 000 first prize in the men’s A category and the K10 000 in the other two sections.

At the Lilongwe Technical College, former champion Joseph Mwale and his elder brother George filled the forms for the Centre whereas Seko Soko and Wasoka Chirwa alongside Linda Jambo and Sharon Leno completed the list for the North at the Illala Crest Lodge in Mzuzu. According to Chessam publicist, Gilton Mkumbwa, the listed individuals are expected to battle it out against their SRCL counterparts during the finals at a yet to be identified venue early next month. “We are currently discussing with the sponsors on the right date and venue for the finals. But the finals will be conducted early September,” Mkumbwa said. 

Bright Nthara, James Kamowa, Stanley Mpinganjira, Gerald Mphungu, Chiletso Chipanga, Joseph Chaiemba, Richard Chiona, Joseph Nyambalo, Edgar Khan and Makhosi Nyirenda qualified for the South three weeks ago. A chess player in the thick of things South’s Festus Kayenda, Chimwemwe Manjankhosi, Bras ton Gondwe, Harry Namwera, Wongani Kondowe, Vincent Chafulumira, Richard Kondowe, Isaac Gondwe, Stanley Biyasi and Steve Chingondo would also compete in the contest’s men’s B category.

Previously, the committee was only accommodating players from Central Region. “Top two men players from the Northern and Central regions would be allowed to compete in the Lab finals. We will also invite a top female player from the two respective regions to take part in the finals,” she said. Namangale said the new set up was a move to develop the sport across the country. “You must bear in mind that the sponsorship caters for the Southern Region alone. However, we decided to invite players from other regions to make the games competitive,” she said.

Namangale said the committee has also hiked the registration fee from K250 to K400 because of rise in accommodation costs. Meanwhile, the chairperson said the region’s qualifying games for Lab Enterprise first edition will take place at Malawi College of Medicine on Saturday. “As usual only men will compete in category A and B to reach the finals whereas women would not play qualifying games,” she said. Lab Enterprise has been sponsoring chess since 2007 and the current sponsorship is worthy K500,000. The amount is split into four divisions to cater for four tournaments per year The firm’s executive director Noel Lipipa promised continued support.