Lubango - After a year without competing, chess player Honorato Pungo, from Gloriosos FC team, won the Absolute Provincial Individual Chess Championship on Sunday in Lubango, Huíla Province, by totalling seven points, the same number of rounds played in a competition in which 20 players took part.
The tournament took place in one of the education institutions under guidance of the Huíla Provincial Chess Association (APX), with the participation of players from Benfica do Lubango, Gloriosos FC, Ferroviário da Huíla and Desportivo da Huíla, as well as the Barazoqui and Brazone nucleus.
Second place was won by David Osvaldo with 5.5 points from Ferroviário da Huíla, while António Jamba with five points from Benfica do Lubango took third place.
Speaking after the game, Honorato Pungo, stressed that the tournament was well organized and competitive by gathering the best players of the province from the veterans to the young ones considered the promises of the sport.
The winner said that he had the most difficult game facing José Miguel, who is a chess veteran player, who according to him made a few inaccuracies, which gave him advantage.
"If the champion of the previous edition played in the championship it would be even more competitive, but I believe I would also have a chance of winning. I will be active this year, taking part in all the competitions and representing Huíla in the best possible way at the National Championships", he said.
In turn, the vice-president of APX/Huíla, Brachegues Chaves, made a positive assessment of the event, given the number of participants, with an acceptable playing strength, even though there was only one girl, which demonstrates the need to encourage more gender in the practice of the sport.
He regretted that Huíla's participation in the last Zonal B and national competitions had been less than desired, as the clubs lacked more work, and APX was giving its support to those who managed to represent the province in a dignified manner.
The 2023 edition was contested by 34 athletes, in which chess player António Mulangui, from Gloriosos FC won. He was absent from this year's edition of the Championship for work reasons.
The APX in Huíla controls more than 100 athletes, including the training levels.
EM/MS/MRA/jmc
