Quest for the South Africa Open

Simutowe loses, Thomas wins
By CHISHALA MUSONDA
Friday, July 06, 2012

ZAMBIA’S Musatwe Simutowe on Wednesday lost ground in the South Africa Open Chess Championship 2012 after losing to Rodwell Makoto of Zimbabwe in the seventh round at the Newlands Rugby Stadium Conference Centre in Cape Town.

But another Zambian Jonathan Thomas is in joint second place in the B-section after claiming a point off Johann van der Westhuizen, his fifth win in seven matches.

In the Open section, the National Master (NM) Simutowe failed to conquer a fellow NM Makoto and remained on 5.5 points and dropped to 18th overall on the standings.

The Zambian was on black pieces in the table two battle that saw Makoto move up to second position and to six and half points, half a point behind the tournament’s leader and Grand Master (GM) Antonio Fernandes of Portugal.

Five players have garnered six points in joint third while 16 players including Simutowe have amassed 5.5 points after seven rounds.

Simutowe, who is Zambia’s GM Amon’s elder brother, has won five games against Sekgwari Mahomole, Llewellyn Louw, Alessandro Crismann, Jacque Tsalicoglou and Graig Bornheim all South Africans.

He has drawn once with South Africa’s Mohamed Bhawoodien.

In round eight, Simutowe was scheduled to play a woman, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Laura Irving of the host nation.

In the B-section, Jonathan Thomas – ranked last at the start of the event is now in joint second place but third overall.

Thomas, who is pupil at the American International School in Lusaka, has managed six points after seven rounds – five wins and two draws – and is just a point behind event’s section leader Shaafee Begg of South Africa.

Source: http://www.daily-mail.co.zm