2025 CABS CANDIDATES TOURNAMENT

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89 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 19 Dec 2025 to 22 Dec 2025 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. 3 federations represented. Top 10 Elo average was 1993, and top seed was Castro Bekithemba Sibanda (🇿🇼 ZIM, 2045).

Katsande Tanaka (🇿🇼 ZIM, 2030) won with 8.0/9, ahead of Norest Bhebhe (7.5) and Chiweshe Shingirai (7.0). Tanaka won solo starting round 5.

The biggest upset came in round 1: GANDA CLIVE (1652) beat MAZHAMBE TADIWANASHE (1980), a +328-point gap.

Location

🇿🇼Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Dates

19 Dec 2025 → 22 Dec 2025

Time control

Standard: All Moves in 60 Min. Incr. 10 Sec. / /

System

Swiss · 9 rounds

Top seed

🇿🇼Castro Bekithemba Sibanda2045

Avg top 10

1,993

Participants

Federations · 3 represented

🇿🇼Zimbabwe×72

FIDE (no federation)×1

🇮🇷Iran×1

Top 3

🥇
Katsande Tanaka
🇿🇼ZIM·2030
8.0pts·2263perf+43.0
🥈
Norest Bhebhe
🇿🇼ZIM·1955
7.5pts·2116perf+35.0
🥉
Chiweshe Shingirai
🇿🇼ZIM·1997
7.0pts·2038perf+10.0

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 9 rounds

Katsande Tanaka 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

Tanaka8Bhebhe7.5Hamandishe7Ruchaka7Shingirai7Chigodo6.5

R5–R9 · LEAD HELD

Katsande Tanaka held the sole lead from R5 through R9 without losing it.

R6 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND

Katsande Tanaka beat Norest Bhebhe (Black).

WIN STREAKS · 2 top finishers

Katsande Tanaka 7 wins (R1–R7)Norest Bhebhe 4+3 wins (R1–R4, R7–R9)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1Katsande Tanaka	*	1	½	1
2Norest Bhebhe	0	*	—	—
3Farai Hamandishe	½	—	*	—
4Kenneth Ruchaka	0	—	—	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Katsande Tanaka	2030	ZIM	+75B	+37N	+29B	+46N	+16B	+2N	+4B	=3N	=5B	8.0	47.5	50.0	43.00	2263	+43.0
2	Norest Bhebhe	1955	ZIM	+34N	+30B	+7N	+9B	=10N	−1B	+17N	+18B	+25B	7.5	47.5	52.5	41.50	2116	+35.0
3	Chiweshe Shingirai	1997	ZIM	+35B	+23N	−46B	+52N	=4B	+28N	+6B	=1B	+9N	7.0	47.0	51.0	39.50	2038	+10.0
4	Ruchaka, Kenneth	2015	ZIM	+50N	+38B	=40N	+26B	=3N	+46B	−1N	+31B	+10N	7.0	44.0	48.0	34.25	2109	+21.0
5	Hamandishe, Farai	1974	ZIM	+57B	+52N	=22B	+20N	=25B	=19N	+37B	+16N	=1N	7.0	43.5	47.5	35.50	2083	+25.2
6	Chigodo,Mukai Cyril	1933	ZIM	+64N	+21B	−9N	+27B	+47N	=10B	−3N	+22B	+18N	6.5	44.5	47.5	31.50	1972	+12.0
7	Bismark Bhobhojani	1823	ZIM	+78B	+79N	−2B	+48N	=11B	+23N	−25N	+17B	+16B	6.5	41.0	43.0	27.50	1964	+27.4
8	Castro Bekithemba Sibanda	2045	ZIM	F	−18N	+59B	+75N	+54B	+30B	+46N	=11N	+19B	6.5	36.5	36.5	28.00	2056	+2.8
9	MDLONGWA NATHAN	1740	ZIM	+67B	+19N	+6B	−2N	+14B	−16N	+51N	+12B	−3B	6.0	48.0	51.0	31.00	2022	+116.4
10	Chinhanga, Tinashe	1989	ZIM	+44B	=42N	+33B	+22N	=2B	=6N	+19B	=25N	−4B	6.0	46.5	51.0	32.25	1987	+0.8
11	MAZHAMBE TADIWANASHE	1980	ZIM	−36N	+63B	+44N	+53B	=7N	−17B	+38N	=8B	+31N	6.0	41.5	44.5	27.50	1884	-17.6
12	Malaba, Rickie	1949	ZIM	+48B	+47N	+13B	−16N	−37B	+49B	+21N	−9N	+23B	6.0	41.0	45.0	29.00	1868	-31.2
13	FAZILAHAMED GRAIG	1730	ZIM	+51N	+39B	−12N	=38B	−31N	+55N	=20B	+46B	+32N	6.0	38.5	42.5	26.50	1968	+114.4
14	NGWENYA ANDILE	1866	ZIM	+66N	=17B	=27N	+50B	−9N	−21B	+63N	+47B	+28N	6.0	38.0	41.0	24.25	1741	-20.2
15	Khumalo, Nkosilathi	1852	ZIM	+65B	+84N	−16B	+54N	−18B	+48N	−31B	+52N	+35B	6.0	36.0	37.0	21.00	1833	-2.8
16	Heath, Darare	1994	ZIM	+54N	+41B	+15N	+12B	−1N	+9B	=18N	−5B	−7N	5.5	49.5	53.5	29.25	1941	-10.4
17	MAHATA DUNCAN	1732	ZIM	+86B	=14N	−20B	+33N	+22B	+11N	−2B	−7N	+38N	5.5	46.5	47.5	25.00	1906	+74.0
18	Chimhungwe, Shephered	0	ZIM	−39N	+8B	+41N	+31B	+15N	+40B	=16B	−2N	−6B	5.5	46.0	50.5	29.25	1986	+38.0
19	GARAMUKANWA MAKOMBORERO	1889	ZIM	+77N	−9B	+36N	+76B	+21N	=5B	−10N	+37B	−8N	5.5	43.0	45.5	23.50	1878	-1.0
20	Tavagwisa, Lawrence	1907	ZIM	+70N	=27B	+17N	−5B	−49N	+44B	=13N	+50B	=21N	5.5	41.5	44.5	25.25	1873	-4.4
21	Mutero Tadisa K	1761	ZIM	+72B	−6N	+67B	+29N	−19B	+14N	−12B	+55N	=20B	5.5	41.5	44.5	23.75	1891	+48.4
22	Mapwashike, Promise	1808	ZIM	+69N	+56B	=5N	−10B	−17N	+60B	+49N	−6N	+44B	5.5	41.0	44.0	22.50	1789	-6.4
23	GERALD CHIRWA	1779	ZIM	+89N	−3B	+66N	=49B	+26N	−7B	+40N	+39B	−12N	5.5	40.5	40.5	19.00	1913	+42.8
24	Matyire Prosper	1885	ZIM	+71B	+32N	F	+30B	−46N	=53B	=26N	=41B	+37N	5.5	37.0	40.0	24.25	1917	+13.2
25	Moyo Blessing	1949	ZIM	=60N	+74B	F	+40B	=5N	=37N	+7B	=10B	−2N	5.0	45.0	48.0	24.50	1917	-4.0
26	Mbondo Donald	1934	ZIM	=61B	+28N	+42B	−4N	−23B	+33N	=24B	F	+27N	5.0	41.5	45.0	24.00	1848	-14.2
27	Ronald, Makombore	1759	ZIM	+80B	=20N	=14B	−6N	+68B	−32N	+34B	+29N	−26B	5.0	41.0	43.0	20.75	1812	+18.4
28	Mudzamba, Jorum	0	ZIM	=53N	−26B	+69N	+55B	+38N	−3B	+30N	=32N	−14B	5.0	40.5	43.5	21.00	1832	0.0
29	Chimbamu, Elisha	1926	ZIM	+45B	+76N	−1N	−21B	=44N	+50B	=53N	−27B	+47N	5.0	39.5	42.0	19.25	1788	-30.0
30	Zinhu Innocent	1775	ZIM	+58B	−2N	+65B	−24N	+61B	−8N	−28B	+64N	+48B	5.0	39.0	42.0	17.50	1785	+1.2
31	Murandu, Elisha	1812	ZIM	F	+85N	+61B	−18N	+13B	+47B	+15N	−4N	−11B	5.0	39.0	40.0	20.50	1886	+14.4
32	Makotore Prosper	1822	ZIM	+63N	−24B	−34N	+78B	+64N	+27B	=39N	=28B	−13B	5.0	37.0	39.0	17.75	1684	-44.8
33	Gutsa Blesley	1764	ZIM	=43N	+60B	−10N	−17B	+77N	−26B	=62B	+70N	+58B	5.0	35.0	37.5	17.00	1664	-37.6
34	File, Madalitso Gabriel	1644	ZIM	−2B	+80N	+32B	−37N	−51N	+81B	−27N	+63B	+46N	5.0	35.0	37.0	16.00	1706	+17.2
35	Mutasa Taonaishe	1696	ZIM	−3N	+81B	−49N	−63B	+43N	+78B	+56N	+51B	−15N	5.0	34.5	36.5	16.50	1846	+30.4
36	GANDA CLIVE	1652	ZIM	+11B	−46N	−19B	+67N	−39N	−63B	+84N	+60B	+51N	5.0	33.5	34.5	17.50	1838	+55.2
37	Dzvetera, Brian	1797	ZIM	+81N	−1B	+70N	+34B	+12N	=25B	−5N	−19N	−24B	4.5	45.0	47.0	18.50	1807	+2.0
38	Moyo Kelvin	1799	ZIM	+59B	−4N	+45B	=13N	−28B	+42N	−11B	+62N	−17B	4.5	42.5	46.0	19.50	1753	-7.6
39	Murapa, Batsirai	1873	ZIM	+18B	−13N	+57B	−47N	+36B	+52N	=32B	−23N	F	4.5	39.5	43.5	21.00	1796	-30.4
40	Kasema Kudzaishe	1903	ZIM	+68B	+82N	=4B	−25N	+42B	−18N	−23B	+61N	F	4.5	38.5	40.0	16.00	1783	-19.4
41	moyo bradley	1784	ZIM	+85B	−16N	−18B	+73N	−48B	+45N	+57B	=24N	F	4.5	36.5	37.5	15.25	1711	-24.4
42	Ndlovu, Bhekile	1760	ZIM	+88N	=10B	−26N	+60B	−40N	−38B	+43N	+49B	F	4.5	36.5	36.5	15.00	1770	+0.4
43	Mundevere Ashley	0	ZIM	=33B	=55N	−47B	=45N	−35B	+75N	−42B	+82N	+61B	4.5	33.0	34.5	14.25	1657	-23.2
44	Jordan Tafadzwa Mupopa	1682	ZIM	−10N	+89B	−11B	+84N	=29B	−20N	+82B	+76N	−22N	4.5	33.0	33.0	7.50	1696	+0.8
45	Arnold Mazonde	1526	ZIM	−29N	+87B	−38N	=43B	+69N	−41B	−60N	+78B	+75N	4.5	29.5	30.5	10.75	1634	+31.2
46	Gadza Tinotenda	1825	ZIM	+73N	+36B	+3N	−1B	+24B	−4N	−8B	−13N	−34B	4.0	50.0	53.0	20.50	1788	-20.0
47	Ndachengedzwa Theophelus	1739	ZIM	+87N	−12B	+43N	+39B	−6B	−31N	+48B	−14N	−29B	4.0	41.5	42.5	14.00	1752	+1.6
48	Nigel Chimanikire	1643	ZIM	−12N	+83B	+51N	−7B	+41N	−15B	−47N	+56B	−30N	4.0	40.0	41.5	14.00	1664	+4.4
49	Tollerance Takwala	0	ZIM	−76B	+68N	+35B	=23N	+20B	−12N	−22B	−42N	=55B	4.0	39.0	41.5	18.25	1712	0.0
50	Nyasha Chiza	1714	ZIM	−4B	+58N	+79B	−14N	+56B	−29N	+65B	−20N	F	4.0	38.5	40.5	13.00	1129	-37.2
51	Mapfuwa, Blessing	1829	ZIM	−13B	+59N	−48B	+82N	+34B	+65N	−9B	−35N	−36B	4.0	38.0	39.5	13.50	1411	-63.0
52	MUSOKERI PRINCE	1742	ZIM	+83N	−5B	+78N	−3B	+63N	−39B	+54N	−15B	−57N	4.0	37.5	39.0	10.50	1566	-50.8
53	Mupunga, Lloyd	1767	IRI	=28B	=61N	+84B	−11N	+70B	=24N	=29B	F	F	4.0	37.0	38.0	13.50	1779	+4.4
54	Chikwava, Ronald	1684	FID	−16B	+72N	F	−15B	−8N	+58N	−52B	+68N	+76B	4.0	35.0	37.5	12.50	1632	-7.6
55	Ndlovu, Siza Brilliant	1768	ZIM	=74N	=43B	=82B	−28N	+81N	−13B	+66N	−21B	=49N	4.0	33.0	34.5	11.50	1459	-45.6
56	Zirima Andrew	0	ZIM	+?B	−22N	F	+66B	−50N	+70N	−35B	−48N	+84B	4.0	28.0	28.0	7.00	1428	0.0
57	Nyamowa Teurai	1652	ZIM	−5N	+88B	−39N	−81B	+80N	+84B	−41N	F	+52B	4.0	28.0	28.0	7.00	1650	-2.0
58	FIDE 11036303	0	—	−30N	−50B	−64N	+83B	+?N	−54B	+77N	+66B	−33N	4.0	28.0	28.0	7.00	898	0.0
59	FIDE 11029170	0	—	−38N	−51B	−8N	−77B	+83N	−71B	+?B	+79N	+68B	4.0	27.0	27.0	6.50	1091	0.0
60	Lazarus Zaranykika	1631	ZIM	=25B	−33N	+75B	−42N	+82B	−22N	+45B	−36N	F	3.5	35.5	37.0	11.00	1638	-1.6
61	Mtshitsho Marshal	1625	ZIM	=26N	=53B	−31N	+85B	−30N	+79B	=76N	−40B	−43N	3.5	32.5	33.5	8.75	1573	-17.2
62	Khuphe, Erasmus Shepherd	1527	ZIM	F	−65N	F	+88B	+85N	+64B	=33N	−38B	F	3.5	21.0	21.0	6.50	1706	+26.8
63	KAMASHO ULRIC THANDO	0	ZIM	−32B	−11N	+80B	+35N	−52B	+36N	−14B	−34N	F	3.0	39.0	41.0	12.00	1614	0.0
64	Nzima Andile	1554	ZIM	−6B	−67N	+58B	+87N	−32B	−62N	+85N	−30B	F	3.0	31.0	32.0	6.00	964	-40.8
65	Churu, Denzel	0	ZIM	−15N	+62B	−30N	+?B	+76N	−51B	−50N	F	F	3.0	31.0	31.0	6.00	1612	0.0
66	FIDE 11022817	0	—	−14B	+?N	−23B	−56N	=67B	+86N	−55B	−58N	=74B	3.0	30.5	30.5	4.00	1004	0.0
67	Pencil, Aaron	0	ZIM	−9N	+64B	−21N	−36B	=66N	=77B	=78N	=69B	F	3.0	30.0	31.5	8.25	1509	0.0
68	FIDE 11005700	0	—	−40N	−49B	+88N	+71B	−27N	−76B	+79N	−54B	−59N	3.0	29.0	29.0	5.00	968	0.0
69	MAKWIRANZOU TAPIWA	0	ZIM	−22B	=75N	−28B	+72N	−45B	−82N	+86B	=67N	F	3.0	28.0	29.0	6.75	1412	-24.0
70	Mutamiri, Arnold	1480	ZIM	−20B	+86N	−37B	+79N	−53N	−56B	+80N	−33B	F	3.0	28.0	28.0	5.00	1002	-21.2
71	FIDE 11033177	0	—	−24N	+77B	F	−68N	−84B	+59N	−75B	+85B	F	3.0	25.5	26.5	7.50	1003	0.0
72	Mutero, Takudzwa	0	ZIM	−21N	−54B	=77N	−69B	−79B	+74N	=73N	F	+?B	3.0	24.0	24.0	5.75	875	0.0
73	FIDE 11018003	0	—	−46B	F	+83N	−41B	=86N	F	=72B	−80N	+87B	3.0	17.0	17.0	4.50	1005	0.0
74	FIDE 11036311	0	—	=55B	−25N	F	F	F	−72B	+88N	+87B	=66N	3.0	16.0	16.0	4.50	1666	0.0
75	Mazibuko Njabuliso	1721	ZIM	−1N	=69B	−60N	−8B	+88N	−43B	+71N	F	−45B	2.5	35.5	35.5	4.50	1352	-94.0
76	Matthew Kaverenga	1725	ZIM	+49N	−29B	F	−19N	−65B	+68N	=61B	−44B	−54N	2.5	33.5	36.5	8.75	1395	-71.2
77	FIDE 11036281	0	—	−19B	−71N	=72B	+59N	−33B	=67N	−58B	F	=78N	2.5	30.0	32.0	8.00	1027	0.0
78	Panashe James Denzel	0	ZIM	−7N	F	−52B	−32N	+87B	−35N	=67B	−45N	=77B	2.0	31.5	31.5	3.75	922	0.0
79	FIDE 11036249	0	—	F	−7B	−50N	−70B	+72N	−61N	−68B	−59B	+83N	2.0	28.5	28.5	4.50	861	0.0
80	FIDE 11029340	0	—	−27N	−34B	−63N	F	−57B	+?N	−70B	+73B	F	2.0	26.0	26.0	3.00	834	0.0
81	MALEMANE PERCY	0	ZIM	−37B	−35N	+86B	+57N	−55B	−34N	F	F	F	2.0	23.5	23.5	5.00	1471	0.0
82	Lexx Angelo Dube	0	ZIM	F	−40B	=55N	−51B	−60N	+69B	−44N	−43B	F	1.5	31.0	31.0	5.00	1499	0.0
83	FIDE 11022795	0	—	−52B	−48N	−73B	−58N	−59B	+88B	−87N	=86N	−79B	1.5	23.0	23.0	0.50	893	0.0
84	Makomo Takudzwa	0	ZIM	F	−15B	−53N	−44B	+71N	−57N	−36B	F	−56N	1.0	35.5	38.5	3.00	921	0.0
85	Manyowa Starben	0	ZIM	−41N	−31B	F	−61N	−62B	+87N	−64B	−71N	F	1.0	27.0	28.0	1.00	860	0.0
86	FIDE 11022701	0	—	−17N	−70B	−81N	F	=73B	−66B	−69N	=83B	F	1.0	22.0	22.0	2.25	798	0.0
87	FIDE 11036265	0	—	−47B	−45N	F	−64B	−78N	−85B	+83B	−74N	−73N	1.0	22.0	22.0	1.50	806	0.0
88	FIDE 11036257	0	—	−42B	−57N	−68B	−62N	−75B	−83N	−74B	−?N	F	0.0	22.0	22.0	0.00	865	0.0
89	FIDE 11029382	0	—	−23B	−44N	F	F	F	F	F	F	F	0.0	12.0	12.0	0.00	931	0.0

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1MDLONGWA NATHANZIM
+116.4
6.0 pts · #15
2FAZILAHAMED GRAIGZIM
+114.4
6.0 pts · #6
3MAHATA DUNCANZIM
+74.0
5.5 pts · #18

Top rating losers

1Mazibuko NjabulisoZIM
-94.0
2.5 pts · #65
2Matthew KaverengaZIM
-71.2
2.5 pts · #68
3Mapfuwa, BlessingZIM
-63.0
4.0 pts · #60

Biggest upsets

R1+328 Elo gap
GANDA CLIVE1652 beat MAZHAMBE TADIWANASHE1980
R6+248 Elo gap
MAHATA DUNCAN1732 beat MAZHAMBE TADIWANASHE1980
R8+209 Elo gap
MDLONGWA NATHAN1740 beat Malaba, Rickie1949