2025 MALAWI OPEN Chess Championship

Open SwissStandard

86 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 04 Jul 2025 to 08 Jul 2025 in Salima, Malawi. 14 titled players from 4 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2136, and top seed was Gillan Bwalya (🇿🇲 ZAM, IM, 2299).

Joseph Mwale (🇲🇼 MAW, FM, 2103) won with 8.5/9, ahead of Gillan Bwalya (8.0) and Thomas Zulu (7.0). Mwale shared the lead from round 4 and won solo starting round 5.

The biggest upset came in round 1: Phiri Blessings (1557) beat Nyama Peter (1995), a +438-point gap.

Location

🇲🇼Salima, Malawi

Dates

04 Jul 2025 → 08 Jul 2025

Time control

Standard: 90 minutes for the whole game

System

Swiss · 9 rounds

Top seed

🇿🇲IMGillan Bwalya2299

Avg top 10

2,136

Participants

Titled players · 14

IM×1

FM×3

CM×10

Federations · 4 represented

🇲🇼Malawi×62

🇿🇲Zambia×16

🇲🇿Mozambique×2

🇿🇦South Africa×1

Top 3

🥇
FMJoseph Mwale
🇲🇼MAW·2103
8.5pts·2440perf+55.8
🥈
IMGillan Bwalya
🇿🇲ZAM·2299
8.0pts·2394perf+8.4
🥉
CMThomas Zulu
🇿🇲ZAM·2057
7.0pts·2243perf+43.8

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 9 rounds

FM Joseph Mwale led from R5; +0.5-point edge over the runner-up. Title race converged from 3 co-leaders at R4 to 1 by R5.

Co-leaders

Mwale8.5Bwalya8Zulu7Dimba7Mwale6.5Jamal6.5

R5–R9 · LEAD HELD

FM Joseph Mwale held the sole lead from R5 through R9 without losing it.

R7 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND

FM Joseph Mwale drew with IM Gillan Bwalya (Black).

WIN STREAKS · 3 top finishers

FM Joseph Mwale 6 wins (R1–R6)IM Gillan Bwalya 3 wins (R4–R6)CM Thomas Zulu 4 wins (R1–R4)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1FMJoseph Mwale	*	½	1	—
2IMGillan Bwalya	½	*	—	—
3CMThomas Zulu	0	—	*	—
4CMJames Dimba	—	—	—	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Mwale, JosephFM	2103	MAW	+18B	+29N	+12B	+13N	+24N	+3B	=2N	+7B	+8B	8.5	50.5	55.5	51.50	2440	+55.8
2	Bwalya, GillanIM	2299	ZAM	+53B	+25N	=6B	+17N	+10B	+5N	=1B	+24N	+11N	8.0	49.0	53.0	45.50	2394	+8.4
3	Zulu, ThomasCM	2057	ZAM	+41N	+40B	+36N	+10N	=5B	−1N	=11B	+14N	+24B	7.0	47.0	51.5	36.75	2243	+43.8
4	Dimba, JamesCM	2089	ZAM	−58B	+61N	+44B	+38N	+17B	−6N	+26B	+12N	+10B	7.0	41.5	45.0	35.00	2116	+7.8
5	Musonda CholaFM	2210	ZAM	+44B	+28N	+16B	+7N	=3N	−2B	−8B	+22N	+17B	6.5	50.0	54.5	36.50	2164	-5.6
6	Kamwendo Precious	1954	MAW	+51B	+42N	=2N	=15B	+19N	+4B	=7B	−8N	+20B	6.5	49.5	53.5	36.75	2184	+48.0
7	Mwale, GeorgeCM	2041	MAW	+63N	+32B	+21N	−5B	+36N	+25B	=6N	−1N	+23B	6.5	47.0	50.5	32.25	2099	+15.8
8	Jamal, Hamid Harmon GulamoCM	2013	MOZ	+69N	−47B	+50N	=40B	+75N	+35B	+5N	+6B	−1N	6.5	41.5	44.0	29.25	2061	+14.4
9	Mwanza, Malama	1968	MAW	+84B	=46N	+57B	−11N	+39B	−26N	+18B	+35N	+19N	6.5	38.5	39.5	26.50	2035	+28.8
10	Daka, Justin	2225	ZAM	+34N	+75B	+22N	−3B	−2N	+38B	+25N	+15B	−4N	6.0	48.0	50.5	28.50	2118	-18.6
11	Handiya JosephFM	2092	ZAM	+48N	−36B	+34N	+9B	=26N	+22B	=3N	+13N	−2B	6.0	47.5	51.5	33.00	2074	-1.6
12	Matola Ernest	1937	MAW	+81N	+54B	−1N	−35B	+41N	+49B	+31N	−4B	+30N	6.0	42.5	44.5	24.50	1883	-6.2
13	Mukonde, Darius	1993	ZAM	+56B	+45N	+47N	−1B	−35N	+36B	+37N	−11B	+28N	6.0	41.5	45.5	26.50	2000	+4.4
14	Phiri, GodwinCM	2148	ZAM	+68N	+38B	+26N	−24B	−25N	+40B	+28N	−3B	+27N	6.0	41.0	44.0	27.00	2030	-22.6
15	Chiwambo StansfordCM	2036	MAW	+67B	=57N	+46B	=6N	+27B	+28N	−24B	−10N	+51B	6.0	39.0	42.0	26.00	2010	-3.6
16	Mulenga Benjamin	1938	ZAM	+66N	+30B	−5N	−37B	+50N	−48B	+21N	+52B	+49B	6.0	37.5	40.5	25.50	1815	-17.8
17	Nyambalo, Joseph XavierCM	1985	MAW	+59N	+37B	+35N	−2B	−4N	+32B	+48N	=19B	−5N	5.5	45.0	48.5	24.25	2027	+11.2
18	Msowoya Emmanuel	1737	MAW	−1N	+43B	−19N	+78B	+54N	=23B	−9N	+39N	+45B	5.5	43.5	45.5	22.25	1946	+35.4
19	Banda Alton	2058	ZAM	−50B	+83N	+18B	+29N	−6B	+47N	+27B	=17N	−9B	5.5	42.0	43.0	23.25	1910	-27.8
20	Nyama Peter	1995	MAW	−30N	+66B	+41N	+32B	−37N	+29B	=35N	+26B	−6N	5.5	40.0	43.0	24.75	1857	-25.4
21	Sharra, Leonard	1859	MAW	+62B	+33N	−7B	−31B	=59N	+42N	−16B	+44N	+35B	5.5	39.5	43.0	23.75	1937	+17.0
22	Joao FarisseCM	1937	MOZ	+61B	+58N	−10B	=39N	+46B	−11N	+57B	−5B	+42N	5.5	38.5	42.0	21.25	1994	+11.4
23	Phiri, Aaron	1960	MAW	+60N	−35B	+69B	−27N	+58B	=18N	+39B	+46N	−7N	5.5	37.0	40.0	21.25	1858	-19.4
24	Makwaya, Kiddy	2011	ZAM	F	+39N	+27B	+14N	−1B	+37B	+15N	−2B	−3N	5.0	49.5	49.5	26.00	2117	+21.6
25	Mpya, Tshediso M	1911	RSA	+73N	−2B	+30N	F	+14B	−7N	−10B	+37B	+33N	5.0	44.0	46.0	23.50	2074	+29.2
26	Kalambo Praise	1921	MAW	+83B	+50N	−14B	+47N	=11B	+9B	−4N	−20N	=46B	5.0	43.0	44.0	20.50	1958	+7.8
27	Chimkute Ronald	1867	MAW	+52N	+31B	−24N	+23B	−15N	+33B	−19N	+48B	−14B	5.0	42.0	46.0	23.50	2009	+29.0
28	Chiona, Richard	1903	MAW	+78N	−5B	+59N	+49B	+31N	−15B	−14B	+55N	−13B	5.0	41.0	43.0	18.50	1917	+1.2
29	Shaba Martin	1874	MAW	+43N	−1B	+60N	−19B	+69B	−20N	−30B	+67N	+50N	5.0	39.5	42.5	18.00	1826	-9.0
30	Phiri Blessings	1557	MAW	+20B	−16N	−25B	+71N	−38B	+80B	+29N	+57N	−12B	5.0	38.5	40.5	19.00	1894	+121.2
31	Swatu, Tebby	2045	ZAM	+55B	−27N	+58B	+21N	−28B	+53N	−12B	−51N	+48B	5.0	37.5	41.0	21.00	1905	-25.2
32	Mpinganjira Stanley Frank	1845	MAW	+64B	−7N	+62B	−20N	+56B	−17N	+43B	−49N	+55B	5.0	37.5	41.0	19.50	1841	+0.8
33	Chipanga, ChiletsoCM	2080	MAW	+76N	−21B	+68N	−36B	+42B	−27N	+58B	+47N	−25B	5.0	35.0	37.5	17.50	1861	-46.6
34	Mtumbuka Moses	1765	MAW	−10B	+86N	−11B	−46N	+61B	+56N	−52B	+78N	+54B	5.0	33.5	33.5	13.50	1703	-9.0
35	Longwe Winston	1814	MAW	+71B	+23N	−17B	+12N	+13B	−8N	=20B	−9B	−21N	4.5	47.0	50.0	23.25	1921	+44.0
36	Zulu, Moses	1873	ZAM	+70B	+11N	−3B	+33N	−7B	−13N	F	+66B	=43N	4.5	42.0	45.0	19.25	1961	+12.6
37	Msendema Willard	1820	MAW	+79B	−17N	+64B	+16N	+20B	−24N	−13B	−25N	=65B	4.5	40.0	42.0	18.75	1847	+4.2
38	Mwangupili Francisco	1874	MAW	+85B	−14N	+51B	−4B	+30N	−10N	−55B	=41B	+63N	4.5	40.0	41.0	15.75	1766	-22.4
39	Mkamanga Rumbani	1848	MAW	+77N	−24B	+52N	=22B	−9N	+70B	−23N	−18B	+62N	4.5	38.5	41.0	15.75	1557	-30.0
40	Chibale Herris	1856	ZAM	+72B	−3N	+70B	=8N	+57B	−14N	F	−42N	+60B	4.5	38.0	41.0	16.25	1829	-4.6
41	Khuphwathea, Paul C.CM	1692	MAW	−3B	+72N	−20B	+64N	−12B	+71N	−47B	=38N	+57B	4.5	37.0	40.0	15.25	1733	+4.2
42	Mbendera Martin	1817	MAW	+82N	−6B	+65N	=75B	−33N	−21B	+59N	+40B	−22B	4.5	36.5	38.5	14.75	1791	-12.8
43	Kanyinji Overton	1842	MAW	−29B	−18N	+84B	+44N	−47B	+68B	−32N	+53N	=36B	4.5	35.5	36.5	14.75	1762	-18.2
44	Mhinji Jacob	1760	MAW	−5N	+78B	−4N	−43B	+81N	=60B	+70N	−21B	+77N	4.5	34.5	36.5	11.25	1188	-19.0
45	Mkumba John	1843	MAW	+65N	−13B	−49N	−59B	=66N	+63B	+54N	+77B	−18N	4.5	33.0	35.5	15.00	1575	-27.8
46	Lwenyeka Tumelo	1825	ZAM	+74N	=9B	−15N	+34B	−22N	+75B	F	−23B	=26N	4.0	41.0	43.5	16.25	1878	+18.0
47	Jimu Fidelis	1837	MAW	F	+8N	−13B	−26B	+43N	−19B	+41N	−33B	+52N	4.0	41.0	41.0	19.50	1893	+9.2
48	Chirwa Innocent	1732	MAW	−11B	−70N	+86B	+62N	+51B	+16N	−17B	−27N	−31N	4.0	38.0	38.0	13.50	1745	+0.2
49	Liwonde Leephos	0	MAW	−57B	+67N	+45B	−28N	F	−12N	+53B	+32B	−16N	4.0	37.0	39.0	16.50	1847	0.0
50	Ahmed Aryan	1713	MAW	+19N	−26B	−8B	+72N	−16B	−52N	+82B	+79N	−29B	4.0	37.0	39.0	12.50	1721	0.0
51	Chakuluntha Yamikani	0	MAW	−6N	+74B	−38N	+68B	−48N	+76B	F	+31B	−15N	4.0	36.5	39.0	13.50	1823	0.0
52	Kondowe Daniel	0	MAW	−27B	+55N	−39B	−58N	+67B	+50B	+34N	−16N	−47B	4.0	36.0	39.0	16.00	1742	0.0
53	White Chisomo	1768	MAW	−2N	+73B	−54N	+60B	+65N	−31B	−49N	−43B	+64B	4.0	36.0	39.0	13.50	1218	-13.0
54	Brian Trapence	0	MAW	+80B	−12N	+53B	−57N	−18B	+69N	−45B	+58N	−34N	4.0	35.0	37.0	12.50	1746	0.0
55	Mkandawire Moses	1683	MAW	−31N	−52B	+73N	−65B	+74N	+79B	+38N	−28B	−32N	4.0	33.0	35.0	12.50	1724	+2.8
56	Zulu Taonga	1500	ZAM	−13N	+77B	−75N	+82B	−32N	−34B	F	+74N	+79B	4.0	28.0	30.0	9.50	1053	-15.8
57	Kapende Charles	1858	MAW	+49N	=15B	−9N	+54B	−40N	+59B	−22N	−30B	−41N	3.5	40.0	43.5	14.50	1585	-46.8
58	Mkwezalamba Elija	1730	MAW	+4N	−22B	−31N	+52B	−23N	+65B	−33N	−54B	=61N	3.5	39.5	43.0	16.25	1782	+8.4
59	Namangale Alain	1658	MAW	−17B	+79N	−28B	+45N	=21B	−57N	−42B	−62N	+81B	3.5	34.0	36.0	11.25	1685	+3.0
60	Banda Sangwani	0	MAW	−23B	+71N	−29B	−53N	+64B	=44N	F	+76B	−40N	3.5	33.0	35.5	11.25	1630	0.0
61	Chinangwa Charles	0	MAW	−22N	−4B	=77N	=66B	−34N	F	+73B	+71N	=58B	3.5	32.5	34.5	10.50	1558	0.0
62	Lambiki Mathews	0	MAW	−21N	+76B	−32N	−48B	=63N	=66B	=68N	+59B	−39B	3.5	32.0	34.5	10.75	1675	0.0
63	Phiri Juzza	1683	MAW	−7B	−64N	−72B	+83N	=62B	−45N	+71B	+70N	−38B	3.5	31.5	32.5	8.75	1119	-12.8
64	Moswoya Herbert	0	MAW	−32N	+63B	−37N	−41B	−60N	+73B	=76N	+68B	−53N	3.5	31.0	33.5	10.75	1652	0.0
65	Mtambo Knowledge	0	MAW	−45B	+84N	−42B	+55N	−53B	−58N	+69B	F	=37N	3.5	30.5	31.5	10.25	1658	0.0
66	Chigowo Greshan	0	MAW	−16B	−20N	=79B	=61N	=45B	=62N	+72B	−36N	−82B	3.0	32.5	34.5	9.75	1590	0.0
67	Chikalira Symon	1680	MAW	−15N	−49B	−78N	+73B	−52N	+74B	F	−29B	+72N	3.0	31.5	33.5	9.00	1155	-14.4
68	Mhango Vicas	1749	MAW	−14B	+85N	−33B	−51N	+78B	−43N	=62B	−64N	=70B	3.0	31.5	32.5	6.25	1223	-22.8
69	Ngwira Sheriff	1661	MAW	−8B	F	−23N	+74B	−29N	−54B	−65N	+81N	+78B	3.0	31.5	31.5	7.00	1149	-19.6
70	Kayira Ian	0	MAW	−36N	+48B	−40N	+76B	=79N	−39N	−44B	−63B	=68N	3.0	31.0	33.0	9.00	1637	0.0
71	Smart Samuel	0	MAW	−35N	−60B	+81N	−30B	+84N	−41B	−63N	−61B	+85N	3.0	27.5	28.5	4.00	887	0.0
72	Malola Marlon	0	MAW	−40N	−41B	+63N	−50B	−76N	+83B	−66N	+80B	−67B	3.0	27.0	28.0	6.50	1578	0.0
73	Jailoss Asher	0	MAW	−25B	−53N	−55B	−67N	+85B	−64N	−61N	+83B	+80N	3.0	26.0	27.0	4.00	1530	0.0
74	Namangale .Alipo	0	MAW	−46B	−51N	+83B	−69N	−55B	−67N	+85N	−56B	+84N	3.0	24.0	25.0	3.00	870	0.0
75	Msikiimodzi Mailosi	1908	MAW	+86B	−10N	+56B	=42N	−8B	−46N	F	F	F	2.5	33.5	33.5	6.25	1728	-22.8
76	Matundu Richard	1719	MAW	−33B	−62N	+85B	−70N	+72B	−51N	=64B	−60N	F	2.5	28.0	29.0	5.75	1280	-2.0
77	FIDE 20511353	0	—	−39B	−56N	=61B	−79N	+82N	+84B	F	−45N	−44B	2.5	27.5	28.5	4.75	938	0.0
78	Kakota praise	0	MAW	−28B	−44N	+67B	−18N	−68N	+81B	F	−34B	−69N	2.0	31.0	33.0	5.00	1442	0.0
79	Nyoni Elvis	0	MAW	−37N	−59B	=66N	+77B	=70B	−55N	F	−50B	−56N	2.0	30.0	32.5	5.50	875	0.0
80	Biyasi Stanley	1806	MAW	−54N	+81B	+82B	F	F	−30N	F	−72N	−73B	2.0	28.0	30.0	4.00	757	-16.2
81	FIDE 20511450	0	—	−12B	−80N	−71B	+85N	−44B	−78N	+83N	−69B	−59N	2.0	25.0	26.0	2.00	964	0.0
82	Simfukwe Herman	0	MAW	−42B	F	−80N	−56N	−77B	F	−50N	+84B	+66N	2.0	24.5	24.5	4.00	909	0.0
83	FIDE 20511426	0	—	−26N	−19B	−74N	−63B	F	−72N	−81B	−73N	+86B	1.0	25.0	25.0	0.00	1087	0.0
84	FIDE 20511418	0	—	−9N	−65B	−43N	F	−71B	−77N	+86B	−82N	−74B	1.0	25.0	25.0	0.00	1105	0.0
85	Kalamba promise	0	MAW	−38N	−68B	−76N	−81B	−73N	F	−74B	+86N	−71B	1.0	21.0	21.0	0.00	981	0.0
86	FIDE 20504357	0	—	−75N	−34B	−48N	F	F	F	−84N	−85B	−83N	0.0	16.5	17.5	0.00	1002	0.0

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Phiri BlessingsMAW
+121.2
5.0 pts · #31
2Mwale, JosephFMMAW
+55.8
8.5 pts · #1
3Kamwendo PreciousMAW
+48.0
6.5 pts · #14

Top rating losers

1Kapende CharlesMAW
-46.8
3.5 pts · #56
2Chipanga, ChiletsoCMMAW
-46.6
5.0 pts · #15
3Mkamanga RumbaniMAW
-30.0
4.5 pts · #65

Biggest upsets

R1+438 Elo gap
Phiri Blessings1557 beat Nyama Peter1995
R1+359 Elo gap
Mkwezalamba Elija1730 beat CMDimba, James2089
R1+345 Elo gap
Ahmed Aryan1713 beat Banda Alton2058