FIDE Master Gillian Bwalya says qualifying to the World Cup Chess Championship is the beginning of more hard work.
Bwalya qualified to the World Championships set for Norway in August after winning the Zone 4.3 Championship in Botswana.
Bwalya, who described the just-ended championship as a "tough tournament", said he was bracing himself for tougher competition at the World Championships.
"It was tough but it's the beginning of tougher assignments," Bwalya said in an interview.
He said he would prepare for the World Championship with a good performance at the Commonwealth Chess Championship in South Africa in July.
"I have to start with the Commonwealth Chess Championship and from there; I can declare myself ready for the world championships”. Bwalya says he wants to earn a diploma in business, but he also wants to promote chess, which is wildly popular in Zambia. “Sometimes I am the headlines for sport in my country,” he said. “Any contribution I can make, I am happy. I don’t have a computer to help me train but am poised to cause major upsets at the World Cup by being the first African players to qualify to go into the second round”
Bwalya, who was unbeaten at the Zone 4.3 championship, won the title after drawing his last two games against fellow FIDE Master Ignatius Njobvu and chess master Gumbo Thabo, both of Botswana, to finish the tournament with eight points from nine rounds of play.
Zimbabwe's Makoto Rodwell finished in second place with 5.5 points.
And Chess Federation of Zambia general secretary Chanda Nsakanya said the federation would support Bwalya to ensure he performs well at the World Cup Championships set for Norway in August.
"We have to find him a local coach and ensure he performs well in the Commonwealth championship and the world championships," Nsakanya said.
Nsakanya said the federation would also apply for Bwalya to be conferred with the International Master title.
He becomes the third Zambian player to have qualified at the World Cup Chess Championship after GM Amon Simutowe and IM Stanley Chumfwa.
Bwalya qualified to the World Championships set for Norway in August after winning the Zone 4.3 Championship in Botswana.
Bwalya, who described the just-ended championship as a "tough tournament", said he was bracing himself for tougher competition at the World Championships.
"It was tough but it's the beginning of tougher assignments," Bwalya said in an interview.
He said he would prepare for the World Championship with a good performance at the Commonwealth Chess Championship in South Africa in July.
"I have to start with the Commonwealth Chess Championship and from there; I can declare myself ready for the world championships”. Bwalya says he wants to earn a diploma in business, but he also wants to promote chess, which is wildly popular in Zambia. “Sometimes I am the headlines for sport in my country,” he said. “Any contribution I can make, I am happy. I don’t have a computer to help me train but am poised to cause major upsets at the World Cup by being the first African players to qualify to go into the second round”
Bwalya, who was unbeaten at the Zone 4.3 championship, won the title after drawing his last two games against fellow FIDE Master Ignatius Njobvu and chess master Gumbo Thabo, both of Botswana, to finish the tournament with eight points from nine rounds of play.
Zimbabwe's Makoto Rodwell finished in second place with 5.5 points.
And Chess Federation of Zambia general secretary Chanda Nsakanya said the federation would support Bwalya to ensure he performs well at the World Cup Championships set for Norway in August.
"We have to find him a local coach and ensure he performs well in the Commonwealth championship and the world championships," Nsakanya said.
Nsakanya said the federation would also apply for Bwalya to be conferred with the International Master title.
He becomes the third Zambian player to have qualified at the World Cup Chess Championship after GM Amon Simutowe and IM Stanley Chumfwa.