By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Maria Banda announced her arrival on the big stage after winning the first phase of the national team chess selection trials held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) with a perfect seven score.
Among the casualties Maria defeated to earn a perfect score included former national champion Phyllis Mwilola, Mary Mashane, Milika Tembo and Precious Nshikokola among others and all older than her. The only player younger than her she beat was 10-year-old Naomi Mwale.
With the Chess Federation (CFZ) picking nine players from the women section, Maria was joined into phase two of the national trials by Maria Banda, Mwilola, Mercy Kalumbu, Nshikokola, Cristabel Nshikokola, Naomi Banda, Karen Namukazya, Mashane and Tembo.
The men section went into play-offs after eight players tied in joint second position and needed to be separated to join Maketo Nyambe and Timothy Kabwe who were joint winners with 5.5 points after seven rounds.
With just five more spots left to make it into Phase-Two left, the eight players on five points were sent into a round robin basis where Kela Kaulule topped with 5.5 points and closely followed by Geoffrey Lwanja who had five points.
Three players tied on four points to make through to Phase-Two and these are Michael Kaoma, Tabala Simasiku and Prince Mulenga.
