2026 ZIM NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN SECTION
10 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 10 Mar 2026 to 13 Mar 2026 in Harare, Zimbabwe. 2 titled players. Top 10 Elo average was 1777, and top seed was Tanaka Dziyanyi (🇿🇼 ZIM, 1941).
Christine Makwena (🇿🇼 ZIM, 1882) won with 7.0/9, ahead of Kudzanayi Charinda (5.5) and Linda Dalitso Shaba (5.5). Makwena shared the lead from round 6 and won solo starting round 7.
The biggest upset came in round 2: Grace Zvarebwa (1677) beat Linda Dalitso Shaba (WFM, 1926), a +249-point gap.
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How it unfolded
Top 10 · 9 roundsChristine Makwena led from R7 onwards, the runner-up race stayed tight. Title race converged from 2 co-leaders at R4 to 1 by R7.
WFM Linda Dalitso Shaba takes the sole lead (4.0/5).
Christine Makwena opens a +1.5-point gap over the chasing pack (closest: WFM Linda Dalitso Shaba); the title is out of reach before R9.
Christine Makwena beat WFM Linda Dalitso Shaba (White).
Cross-table
| # | Player | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts | SB | Bh | Δ Elo | Perf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇿🇼Makwena, Christine | 1882 | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 28.00 | 38.0 | +23.6 | 1985 |
| 3 | 🇿🇼WCMCharinda, Kudzanayi | 1907 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5.5 | 23.75 | 39.5 | -12.0 | 1842 |
| 2 | 🇿🇼WFMShaba, Linda Dalitso | 1926 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.5 | 20.75 | 39.5 | -16.4 | 1840 |
| 5 | 🇿🇼Tanaka Dziyanyi | 1941 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 5.0 | 20.75 | 40.0 | -30.0 | 1802 |
| 4 | 🇿🇼Carol Ndlovu | 1659 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | 20.50 | 40.0 | +78.0 | 1833 |
| 6 | 🇿🇼MAKWIRANZOU TEHILLAH | 1581 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4.5 | 18.00 | 40.5 | +93.6 | 1799 |
| 7 | 🇿🇼Grace Zvarebwa | 1677 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | * | 0 | ½ | ½ | 4.0 | 18.75 | 41.0 | +29.6 | 1745 |
| 8 | 🇿🇼Ndou Tatenda | 1738 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | * | ½ | 0 | 3.0 | 13.25 | 42.0 | -20.4 | 1656 |
| 9 | 🇿🇼Nomalungelo, Mathe | 1789 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 3.0 | 13.25 | 42.0 | -33.2 | 1650 |
| 10 | 🇿🇼Amos Blessing | 1666 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | * | 2.5 | 8.00 | 42.5 | -24.4 | 1623 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
- 1MAKWIRANZOU TEHILLAHZIM+93.64.5 pts · #6
- 2Carol NdlovuZIM+78.05.0 pts · #4
- 3Grace ZvarebwaZIM+29.64.0 pts · #7
- 1Nomalungelo, MatheZIM-33.23.0 pts · #9
- 2Tanaka DziyanyiZIM-30.05.0 pts · #5
- 3Amos BlessingZIM-24.42.5 pts · #10
- R2+249 Elo gap
- R8+230 Elo gap
- R1+223 Elo gap