2025 MINERVA ZIMBABWE OPEN TOURNAMENT LADIES SECTION
Open SwissStandard
38 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 20 Aug 2025 to 24 Aug 2025 in Harare, Zimbabwe. 5 titled players from 5 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 1825, and top seed was Banda Natalie Katlo (🇧🇼 BOT, WFM, 1904).
Linda Dalitso Shaba (🇿🇼 ZIM, WFM, 1889) won with 7.0/9, ahead of Kudzanayi Charinda (7.0) and Banda Natalie Katlo (6.0). Shaba won on tie-break after catching the field in the final round.
The biggest upset came in round 8: Merrylene Zivanomoyo (1602) beat Banda Natalie Katlo (WFM, 1904), a +302-point gap.
Location
🇿🇼Harare, Zimbabwe
Dates
20 Aug 2025 → 24 Aug 2025
Time control
Standard: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1
System
Swiss · 9 rounds
Titled players · 5
WFM×2
WCM×3
Federations · 5 represented
🇿🇼Zimbabwe×25
🇧🇼Botswana×2
🇲🇼Malawi×1
🇿🇦South Africa×1
🇿🇲Zambia×1
Top 3
- 🥇
- 🥈
- 🥉
How it unfolded
Top 6 · 9 roundsTight race until R9; 2 players tied at 7.0/9, decided on Buchholz.
Co-leaders
10
5
2
1
2
3
2
1
2
R9 · TIEBREAK CLUSTER
2 players finish on 7.0/9. Shaba takes the title on Buchholz Cut1 (43.5).
R6 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND
WFM Linda Dalitso Shaba drew with WCM Kudzanayi Charinda (Black).
WIN STREAKS · 2 top finishers
WCM Kudzanayi Charinda 4 wins (R1–R4)WFM Banda Natalie Katlo 3 wins (R1–R3)
Key matchups · top 4
Head-to-head between the four finishers| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1WFMLinda Dalitso Shaba | * | ½ | 1 | 1 |
| 2WCMKudzanayi Charinda | ½ | * | 1 | ½ |
| 3WFMBanda Natalie Katlo | 0 | 0 | * | — |
| 4Colletta Wakuruwarewa | 0 | ½ | — | * |
Grille américaine
| # | Player | Elo | Fed | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts | Bu C1 | Bu | SB | Perf | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shaba, Linda DalitsoWFM | 1889 | ZIM | +16N | +9B | =8N | +4B | +14B | =2N | +3B | −5N | +13N | 7.0 | 43.5 | 48.0 | 36.50 | 1978 | +21.6 |
| 2 | Charinda, KudzanayiWCM | 1889 | ZIM | +18B | +15N | +28B | +3N | =5B | =1B | +13N | =4N | =7B | 7.0 | 42.5 | 45.0 | 33.25 | 1962 | +18.2 |
| 3 | Banda Natalie KatloWFM | 1904 | BOT | +19B | +11N | +7N | −2B | +10N | +5B | −1N | −13B | +8N | 6.0 | 44.0 | 48.0 | 29.50 | 1883 | -4.8 |
| 4 | Wakuruwarewa, Colletta | 1779 | ZIM | +22N | =13B | +23N | −1N | +28B | +8B | =7N | =2B | =10N | 6.0 | 40.0 | 42.5 | 24.75 | 1816 | +10.6 |
| 5 | Makwena, Christine | 1903 | ZIM | +17N | =10B | +13N | +8B | =2N | −3N | =6B | +1B | −12N | 5.5 | 45.0 | 49.5 | 29.75 | 1813 | -17.2 |
| 6 | Carol Ndlovu | 1673 | ZIM | F | F | +36B | +25N | +18B | +14N | =5N | −7B | +16N | 5.5 | 31.0 | 31.0 | 18.75 | 1870 | +52.0 |
| 7 | Mudodo, Refiloe HazelWCM | 1805 | ZIM | F | +12N | −3B | =28N | =9B | +19N | =4B | +6N | =2N | 5.0 | 41.5 | 44.0 | 24.75 | 1806 | +0.6 |
| 8 | Ndou Tatenda | 1752 | ZIM | +27B | +37N | =1B | −5N | +22B | −4N | =10N | +23B | −3B | 5.0 | 38.5 | 38.5 | 15.00 | 1703 | -8.4 |
| 9 | Felistas Mapfumo | 1651 | ZIM | +36B | −1N | =22B | +18N | =7N | −17B | +16N | =14B | =11B | 5.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 17.50 | 1668 | +6.4 |
| 10 | Naidoo, Kajol | 1701 | RSA | F | =5N | =14B | +12N | −3B | +35N | =8B | +15N | =4B | 5.0 | 36.5 | 36.5 | 20.00 | 1873 | +72.0 |
| 11 | Zengeni, Tatenda Melisa | 1715 | ZIM | +29N | −3B | +16N | =17B | −13N | =20B | =27N | +24B | =9N | 5.0 | 34.0 | 36.0 | 17.50 | 1616 | -22.4 |
| 12 | MURAIRWA SALLY | 1623 | ZIM | F | −7B | +27N | −10B | +23N | −13B | +20N | +35B | +5B | 5.0 | 29.5 | 29.5 | 15.00 | 1753 | +26.6 |
| 13 | Zivanomoyo, Merrylene | 1602 | ZIM | F | =4N | −5B | +21N | +11B | +12N | −2B | +3N | −1B | 4.5 | 45.5 | 47.0 | 23.00 | 1821 | +87.6 |
| 14 | Moshoboro, Laone PhoebeWCM | 1819 | BOT | =23B | F | =10N | +19B | −1N | −6B | +24N | =9N | +15B | 4.5 | 39.5 | 42.5 | 18.00 | 1683 | -51.2 |
| 15 | Masiyazi, Rhoda | 1644 | ZIM | +33N | −2B | =20N | =23B | =16N | +22B | +17N | −10B | −14N | 4.5 | 36.0 | 37.0 | 14.75 | 1576 | -15.8 |
| 16 | Melissa Nyashadzaishe Kambezo | 1526 | ZIM | −1B | +36N | −11B | +32N | =15B | +28N | −9B | +27N | −6B | 4.5 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 8.75 | 1563 | +8.8 |
| 17 | AMOS ,FLORENCE | 1562 | ZIM | −5B | +38N | +25B | =11N | −35B | +9N | −15B | +32N | −21B | 4.5 | 28.5 | 28.5 | 12.00 | 1513 | -18.0 |
| 18 | charimba tanyaradzwa | 1549 | ZIM | −2N | +33B | +35N | −9B | −6N | −24B | +28B | +25N | −20N | 4.0 | 31.0 | 31.0 | 6.50 | 1499 | -23.2 |
| 19 | Muzavazi, Ruvimbo | 1563 | ZIM | −3N | +29B | +37B | −14N | +27N | −7B | −23N | −20B | +30N | 4.0 | 29.0 | 29.0 | 6.50 | 1477 | -38.4 |
| 20 | Muringani Sally | 1482 | ZIM | −35N | F | =15B | −22N | +29B | =11N | −12B | +19N | +18B | 4.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 14.75 | 1603 | +48.4 |
| 21 | Muza Rosa | 1526 | ZIM | F | F | F | −13B | +31N | +30B | −35N | +26B | +17N | 4.0 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 11.50 | 1529 | -0.4 |
| 22 | Yvette Maini | 1476 | ZIM | −4B | F | =9N | +20B | −8N | −15N | −32B | +33N | +27B | 3.5 | 30.0 | 31.0 | 10.00 | 1574 | +26.0 |
| 23 | Gwaza Rufaro | 1498 | ZIM | =14N | F | −4B | =15N | −12B | +26N | +19B | −8N | −35B | 3.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 11.50 | 1553 | +13.2 |
| 24 | Kapalamula Martha | 1498 | MAW | F | F | +33N | −27B | +25B | +18N | −14B | −11N | F | 3.0 | 25.0 | 25.0 | 8.00 | 1447 | -6.2 |
| 25 | Kudzaishe Mugero | 0 | ZIM | −28B | F | −17N | −6B | −24N | +36B | +34N | −18B | +29N | 3.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 2.50 | 1285 | 0.0 |
| 26 | FIDE 11014520 | 0 | — | F | F | F | +36N | F | −23B | +33B | −21N | +34B | 3.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 1.50 | 712 | 0.0 |
| 27 | Manyuchi Runyaradzo Joseline | 1476 | ZIM | −8N | F | −12B | +24N | −19B | +29N | =11B | −16B | −22N | 2.5 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 7.50 | 1436 | -18.8 |
| 28 | Grace Zvarebwa | 1607 | ZIM | +25N | +35B | −2N | =7B | −4N | −16B | −18N | F | F | 2.5 | 31.0 | 31.0 | 5.50 | 1531 | -24.4 |
| 29 | Ncube, Princess Eleanor | 1459 | ZIM | −11B | −19N | =32B | +34N | −20N | −27B | F | =31N | −25B | 2.0 | 22.5 | 22.5 | 2.25 | 759 | -60.0 |
| 30 | FIDE 11033215 | 0 | — | F | F | F | F | +33B | −21N | =31B | =34N | −19B | 2.0 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 2.25 | 745 | 0.0 |
| 31 | FIDE 11033126 | 0 | — | F | F | F | F | −21B | F | =30N | =29B | +33N | 2.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 3.00 | 1300 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Mushamainza Zvishamiso | 0 | ZIM | F | F | =29N | −16B | F | F | +22N | −17B | F | 1.5 | 25.0 | 25.0 | 4.50 | 1419 | 0.0 |
| 33 | FIDE 11016221 | 0 | — | −15B | −18N | −24B | F | −30N | +34B | −26N | −22B | −31B | 1.0 | 22.5 | 22.5 | 0.50 | 742 | 0.0 |
| 34 | FIDE 11014431 | 0 | — | F | F | F | −29B | F | −33N | −25B | =30B | −26N | 0.5 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 1.00 | 659 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Mwale, Naomi | 1798 | ZAM | −20 | −28 | −18 | −37 | −17 | −10 | −21 | −12 | −23 | 0.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 0.00 | 769 | -125.0 |
| 36 | FIDE 11033118 | 0 | — | −9N | −16B | −6N | −26B | F | −25N | F | F | F | 0.0 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 0.00 | 817 | 0.0 |
| 37 | FIDE 11033100 | 0 | — | F | −8B | −19N | −35B | F | F | F | F | F | 0.0 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 0.00 | 904 | 0.0 |
| 38 | FIDE 11033096 | 0 | — | F | −17B | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | 0.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 0.00 | 762 | 0.0 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
Top rating gainers
- 1Zivanomoyo, MerryleneZIM+87.64.5 pts · #11
- 2Naidoo, KajolRSA+72.05.0 pts · #7
- 3Carol NdlovuZIM+52.05.5 pts · #15
Top rating losers
- 1Mwale, NaomiZAM-125.00.0 pts · #34
- 2Ncube, Princess EleanorZIM-60.02.0 pts · #35
- 3Moshoboro, Laone PhoebeWCMBOT-51.24.5 pts · #10
Biggest upsets
- R8+302 Elo gap
- R9+280 Elo gap
- R3+249 Elo gap