Chess star leaves for Norway tourney
Posted August 7, 2013 by mitia in Sports
By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

FIDE Master (FM) Gillian Bwalya is this evening scheduled to leave for Norway ahead of the World Chess Championship slated for August 10 to September 5 in Tromso.

Bwalya, the International Master (IM) who qualified to the World Championship after emerging victorious at the Zone 4.3 championship in Botswana in May this year, would be among 128 players who would be competing for the $120,000 (about K660,000) first prize, with a total prize fund of $1.6 million (about K8.8 million).

The lucrative Chess World Cup 2013, is a 128-player single-elimination tournament which would see the first-round losers pocket $6,000 (K33,000).

Chess Federation of Zambia (CFZ) deputy secretary Richard Mwansa said in an interview yesterday that Zambia’s sole representative at the games would be accompanied by tournament coordinator, Aaron Banda.

He said Bwalya had prepared adequately for the tournament and that he was ready to produce positive results for Zambia.

“I can confirm that all is set for Gillian’s trip to Norway for the Chess World Cup and he is leaving tomorrow (today) in the evening. As a federation we are confident that our representative would put up a good performance and reach greater heights,” he said.

And Bwalya who was bubbling with confidence said though he expected stiff competition, he was determined to stun his opponents.

Bwalya said in an interview that he was aiming for a top flight finish and refused to be cowed by big names at the tournament.

“I am prepared to face my opponents at the World Cup, and my target is to achieve something positive for the country,” he said.

Bwalya kicks off the championship a clash against former world champion Grand Master (GM) Vladimir Kramnik of Russia who is ranked third in the world.

The Swedish embassy in June sponsored Bwalya with $3000 (about K16,500) to enable him attend the 2013 World Chess Cup.

Source: http://www.times.co.zm 

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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