In the bustling heart of Lusaka, Zambia, chess players from across the African Zone 4.5 gathered for the Zone 4.5 Chess Championship 2024. Held at the elegant Urban Hotel, this prestigious event brought together some of the best chess minds in the region. Over the course of nine grueling rounds, players tested their skills and endurance in what proved to be an unforgettable tournament.
The tournament was organized by the Zambia Chess Federation (ZCF) in collaboration with Project Chess Zambia (PCZ), an initiative founded by International Master Andrew Kayonde.
This partnership and commitment is about promoting chess across Zambia and other regions. Key figures such as Susan Namangale, Charles Masaiti, and Linus Katebe worked closely with Project Chess Zambia for the seamless execution of the event. Zambia fielded 26 players of the 31 players who participated in the championship. The other five players are IM Beukes Dante (Namibia), IM Oatlhotse Providence (Botswana), Masango Spencer (Zimbabwe), Mapuranga Vitalis (Zimbabwe), and Ndahangwapo Heskiel (Namibia).
Championship Highlights
As the competition progressed, several standout performances emerged.
- IM Kelvin Chumfwa (Zambia) claimed the championship title with an impressive 7 points.
- IM Dante M Beukes (Namibia) finished second with 6.5 points. He secured his position based on tiebreaks.
- IM Stanley Chumfwa (Zambia) also scored 6.5 points but ended in third place due to tiebreaks.
The tournament was full of unexpected twists. One of the biggest surprises came from Rafael Sharon, a 2008-rated player from Zambia who defied expectations by finishing in fourth place with 6 points.
On the other hand, top-seeded player IM Chitumbo Mwali (Zambia) experienced a challenging tournament, finishing in 15th place.
Final Ranking after round 9 can be found here.
