Judith Hara, "Kitwe Novice Defies Odds, Wins Chess Tourney,"  The Times of Zambia, 28 October 2003 (Ndola, Zambia).

An unknown school-leaver Maybin Phiri, over the weekend won the Copperbelt Closed Chess Championship during which All-Africa Games bronze medalist Nase Lungu finished a distant seventh.

Phiri, who plays community chess in Chimwemwe township in Kitwe, drew his last game against Andrew Kayonde to amass 7½ points and walk away with K800,000 cash first-prize. Kayonde, who trailed Phiri going into the final round, took second place and won K600,000 from the seven points while Nolias Kalinga and Steven Mukupa also on seven points finished third and fourth respectively.

Kalinga, who won his ninth round game against Kalata Chanda pocketed K450,000 while Mukupa won K300,000 prize-money after beating Joe Simwanda in the final round. Day-Two leader William Jilowa, a Copperbelt University (CBU) student, walked away with K200, 000 after finishing fifth with 6½ points while Lungu's younger brother Nathan, pocketed K150,000.

Lungu, who played with his All-Africa games medal round his neck finished just below his younger brother in seventh place with 6½ points after drawing with Malembeka Chumfwa, younger brother of national champion Stanley. Nase Lungu, Chumfwa, Evans Simubala and Chanda Nsakanya each took K100, 000 for finishing seventh, eighth ninth and tenth positions respectively.

Mutinta Kalulu won K200,000 for being the best woman player after finishing with four points while the oldest player in the tournament was Bruce Chandika who walked away with K200,000 on 5½ points. The best youth player was Mikeni Chofya who received K100,000 for also finishing with 5½ points.

Kitwe Mayor Patrick Tembo who graced the prize ceremony on behalf of Copperbelt deputy minister Webby Chipili, said the three chess medals chess won at 8th All-Africa games was a sign that minor sports were growing in popularity. He also urged youths to take up games such as chess instead of engaging in vices that would ruin their careers - like illicit sex that leads to contracting HIV/AIDS.

Earlier Chess Federation of Zambia (CFZ) treasurer Moses Zimba appealed to the Government to help develop the sport, which had brought three medals from the All-Africa Games. Zimba also encouraged women-participation in chess because their turn out at the tournament was poor while Copperbelt Chess Association (CCA) secretary Nolias Kalinga said his executive had managed to raise K400,000 more money than the tournament budget of K5 million.

The tournament was sponsored by, among other companies, Morganite, Prowess, Pelmer Equipment, Chermopharm, Siemens, Linknet and Pende Electrical.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 30 October 2003