Odhiambo wins bronze at African championships

Crispin 'Goj' Odhiambo (left) after winning silver at World Draughts Championship qualifiers in Antalya, Turkey. [Courtesy]

East African champion Crispin ‘Goj’ Odhiambo amassed 13 points to win bronze in Blitz category at the ongoing third edition of African Men Draughts64 Championship in Lusaka, Zambia.

The category was won by sensational Zambian checkers genius William 'Willie' Chinzewe, who garnered 18 points.

Enock Banda of Zambia bagged silver with 14 points in the competition contested by 26 players.

"The tournament was okay but very hard. There are many strong players from other African countries and around the globe. We have like 15 grandmasters here," Goj told Standard Sports.

"I really appreciate the bronze that I have won, owing to the fact that I'm playing Blitz and Rapid for the first time which are speed tournaments, they limit the game to three minutes. My hopes are in the classic category where one has enough time to study all the possibilities," Goj said.

Chinzewe, 16, is already enjoying support from Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema who recently honoured him at the National Heroes Awards and accorded him a diplomatic passport.

The contestants in Zambia are currently battling in the classic where they did round three and four yesterday.

Round five and six will be held today, with the seventh, eighth and final round nine scheduled for tomorrow.

In May, Kenya’s finest Goj pinned down world beaters at the Turkey World Championship qualifiers where he won silver. He overcame strong opposition from five-time world champion Alexander Moiseyev of Russia.