A CHESS TALE.

 Written By Gumbi Kaziguda Jele 


Am always haunted by this picture. On this day,I played probably my 'BEST' chess game in my ten years playing career. I was on board 1 for the UNZA team and was paired against the reigning Zambia closed champion at that time,Tebby Swatu.

 His dominance and activity at that time meant that he was going to carry the day in just a few minutes and within just a few moves;but Alas it was not to be so.

Tebby was caught completely unprepared for the move that I played on move 2.

Within 10 moves into our game our board was surrounded by not less than 2 IMs and other strong Zambian players;this game actually became the most viewed game on this same day.

I sacrificed my bishop for two pawns,but also denied Tebby the chance to castle.

With quick play and precision,I felt pity for Tebby who seemed completely lost and ashamed that I was 'embrassing'him like that when he was just from dominating at the Zambia closed championship.

He was very short on time with a completely lost pposition. I was remaining with just one move to finish him off but the excitement and crowdphobic got the better of me I made a very horrible and timid move.

Just move one move and they were flowns and anger on most spectators as I heard continous murmering and curses directed towards me,the crowd actually dispersed after I blundered.

From not being able to look up,Tebby's face suddenly light and loosened up,he was back in the game.

Realising my mistake,I decided to start blizting Tebby who had less than 4 minutes and I had 28 plus minutes,but my efforts were futile as he still went ahead and won the game. 

After this game I became very close friends with Tebby,but I stopped playing competitive chess as I could not hold up;from a rising chess star,I somehow vanished from the Zambian chess scene.

After graduting from University,I went back to competitive chess assuring myself that I would never repeat the same mistake. I joined LIYOCA chess club and showed some signs of solid play with much fewer mistakes than previous until.....?! I was one day paired against the talented former under 18 Zambian National champion Elias Musonda.

 I played the same opening that I employed against Tebby,and by move 12 or so,Elias was an exchange plus two pawns down;the position was simply lost for him! International Master Daniel Jere,The Legendary Oscar Mwenya,Joshua Mulauzi and other notable top Zambian players quickly surrounded our table and seemed awed by how 'brilliantly' I was playing! 

But then,I can't really explain what happened but I again missed the finishing blow and eventually drew the game despite having three pawns against zero pawns for Elias,I drew due to lack of time to queen! "Mr Douglas I was about to resign and was waiting for you to capture the free Knight" remarked the young Elias after the game! Am not sure if am still psycholigically haunted by the Tebby Swatu game or what,but I seriously don't understand how I start brilliantly but end awful!? 


The Legendary Oscar Mwenya and Geofrey Luanja likes saying they hate watching my games because I play like the Zambian National Soccer Team with a very good position but yet lack a concrete plan to convert and ensure the win!!! Am currently not playing competitive chess hoping that I can work on patience and end game. See you soon chess fellas.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

30 UNIQUE NGUNI NAMES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

Image
Looking for a fancy Nguni name for your child? Well, let's look at some 30 attractive  Nguni  names and their meanings. 1. Amandla: this name can be given to either a boy or a girl and it means 'strength or power'.  2. Amile: this is a name for a boy. It is has to do something keeping a structural holding making sure things are balanced in life.  3. Bhekizizwe: a male name, this means 'look after the nations' in the   Ngoni /  Zulu   tongue.  4. Buchule: A Xhosa  name meaning "skills; cleverness", the name applies to both boys and girls.  5. Bonginkosi: a Zulu name for a boy meaning 'thanksgiving'.  6. Butho: looking for a name that associates with a strong character for your boy, well this is the right name as it means 'Soldier' in the  Ndebele  tongue. 7. Cebisa: another fancy Xhosa name for a female is Cebisa, it means 'advice'.  8. Dela: a rare female Zulu name but one that is unique, it means to become whole, com...
Read more

THE BEGINNING OF A NGUNI STORY THAT SHAPED SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICAN KINGDOMS.

Image
The glorious and unrivaled Northern trek of King Zwangendaba from   kwaZulu-Natal  in  South Africa  is well documented, yet the world has for a long time remained divided on who he really was. Different clans or indeed Nations have indeed claimed 'ownership' of the sung hero of the Northern Nguni Kingdoms which has grown in mighty to encompass different   Nguni    States such as the  Zulu ,  Swazis , and those from the  Mthwakazi  kingdom. It has thus been a disappointing journey for most researchers and historians who have ventured into this area of discovering the roots of Zwangendaba as they have been left with more questions than answers.                                            An artistic impression of King Zwangendaba as a Youth as gotten from a Malawian Nguni artist.   After researching for more tha...
Read more

LOBENGULA'S GRAVE FINALLY 'DISCOVERED'.

Image
A NDEBELE KING WHO WAS BURIED IN NGONILAND There has been a long standing FIB that King Lobengula of the Ndebele empire died and was buried in Matabeleland. This distortion of truth conjured and fronted by the Muzungu (white man) has been there for a long time and told BLATANTLY to the world.  Am not a Ndebele historian, thus in my own opinion, the truth should have been revealed by a someone of Ndebele roots. But since, it seems Ngonis (my tribe) have a traditional relationship with the Ndebeles, I have felt compelled to expose to the readers the TRUE accounts of King Lobengula’s fate.  You see, after the battle of Shangani in October 1893, which led to overwhelming losses for the Ndebeles, Lobengula escaped from Ndebele territory fearing arrest if not possible execution by the British forces. But where did the Ndebele King escape to and what happened to him afterwards?  Ngoniland! Yes, this is the kingdom which Lobengula deemed safe to escape to. Mpezeni and Lobengula h...
Read more