Teen Chess Prodigy Joins Senior National Team

Teen Chess Prodigy Joins Senior National Team

Seventeen-year-old Naomi Mwale has made history by becoming the youngest female player ever to join the Chess Senior National team.

Mwale secured the top position in the Women’s Section of the National team playoffs, triumphing over nine other experienced female competitors, including Constance Mbatha, who holds the prestigious Women FIDE Master title.

Joining Mwale in the Senior National team are Namakau Likando, who finished second, and Mbatha, who took third place. They will be joined by Lorita Mwango and Lubuto Mwale, completing the list of the five female players in the team.

In the Men’s Section, International Master Andrew Kayonde secured a remarkable comeback to the national team by finishing at the top with 7.5 points. Kayonde, a six-time National Champion, will be joined by Boniface Ng’onga and Michael Kaoma, along with Gillian Bwalya and Chitumbo Mwali, as the five male senior National team players.

The total number of Chess National team players representing the country in various competitions this year is 10.

Expressing her joy after the playoffs, Mwale stated that she is thrilled to have made history after several attempts to join the national team.

Kayonde expressed gratitude to the Chess Federation of Zambia (CFZ) for the transparent selection process of National team players.

CFZ President Leslie Chikuse encouraged players who did not make it to the national team to continue working hard, emphasizing that there are numerous opportunities for them to represent the country.