MBABANE – Team Eswatini return to the board today in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, after the official rest day at the FIDE 46th Chess Olympiad.
Following a free day yesterday, Tuesday September 22, the Open and Women sections sides will be back in action at noon Eswatini time (3pm in Samarkand) as the final stretch of the 11-round competition begins. The curtain is due to fall on Sunday, September27.
The women’s team, who have two wins and a draw from their six matches so far, face Trinidad and Tobago. They will look to build on recent positive results.
Their record reads:
Round 1: Eswatini 0-4 Mexico
Round 2: Eswatini 0-4 Zimbabwe
Round 3: Eswatini 2-2 Bhutan
Round 4: Eswatini 2.5-1.5 Antigua and Barbuda
Round 5: Eswatini 2.5-1.5 Guam
Round 6: Eswatini 0-4 Panama
Today’s line-up sees reigning national champion Nolwazi Nkwanyana rested. Nomcebo Sibisi takes board one, with Women Candidate Master (WCM) Sinqobile Dlamini on board two; Tivumile Ngozo on three; and Siphosethu Mkhweli on four.
They are led by Women International Chess Federation (FIDE) Master Ysvett Hemono on board one. Boards two and three are occupied by Women Candidate Masters Shemilah James and Zara Le Fleur, while Aradhana Singh, who holds no title, takes board four.
Meanwhile the men’s team that have one win and one draw from six rounds take on the Isle of Man. CM Mbongeni Mabuza leads from board one, with Kwanele Ngwenya on board two. Santiago De Nobrega and Nhlanhla Simelane are on boards three and four, in that order. Nkosivile Mabuza is rested.
Their results so far:
Round 1: Eswatini 0-4 Chinese Taipei
Round 2: Eswatini 0.5-3.5 Burundi
Round 3: Eswatini 3-1 Togo
Round 4: Eswatini 1.5-2.5 Haiti
Round 5: Eswatini 2-2 Mauritius
Round 6: Eswatini 0.5-3.5 San Marino
The Isle of Man have managed one win and one draw, with four defeats from their six games played. Both Eswatini sides will be aiming to push for every available point as the Olympiad enters its decisive phase.
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