Tonight we welcome back home our Fide Chess Master Banele Mhango as he returns from his most testing battle thus far.
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| FM Banele Mhango contemplating his next move at the AICC |
FM Banele Mhango went toe-to-to with the greatest Chess players Africa had to offer at the just concluded African Individuals Chess Championship in Malawi. He has shown true character and resilience of strength as he fought (mentally) three Chess Grand Masters in games that lasted 4 hours on avarage. We are proud of the fact that among his four victories and three draws, one win was against an Egyptian Grand Master.
Banele only lost two games out of all 9 games played and they were both against much higher rated Grand Masters.
This has been the most testing and invariably the most rewarding chess competition the 18-year-old Master has taken part in thus far. He returns home with a staggering rating gain of 124 Elos( points) taking him leaps towards his goal of achieving the Grand Master title, or at least the International Master title which is a step above his current Fide Master title.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Touch A Million NPO for making this trip possible.
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| DreamKids Chess Coaches |
"Banele Mhango is one of the Dreamkids Afterschool program Chess coaches, and his successes are a symbol of hope for the kids whose lives we are touching in our programs. We are in every bit proud of all his successes thus far and we are happy to have been part of his journey." Ms. Shirley Khoza, Director of Touch A Million NPO
Photos ectracted from the African Inividual Chess Championships 2021 Facebook page on the following link: https://web.facebook.com/2021-Africa-Individual-Chess-Championship-102773208603604
