PowerHouse Chess Club

OLD HABITS DIE HARD, POWERHOUSE CHESS CLUB PLAYERS REFUSE TO LET GO.

Over the weekend, two of our club players CM Simphiwe L. Dlamini who doubles as our founder, together with Nduduzo Fakudze travelled to compete at the recently held 2026 Mozambique Open, and indeed they competed, pushing beyond limits💪

CM Simphiwe Dlamini reasserts his chess prowess.

In what may seem like a loud statement, CM Snow quietly reminded everyone in Moz that he is still "Snow", cold and bad to the bone. With a final score of 5 points out of 7, his performance was a statement and a challenge, even to himself, to keep hunting for more.

Nduduzo returns in style.

His last appearance in a FIDE-rated classical tournament was in February 2024, and so he returned in style. Also competing in Mozambique, Ndu finished with a 4/7 score. After a long break from classical chess, he returns with a captivating performance, losing only lone game, drawing 4, and his statement is clear "I am not that generous with points". Earlier on, while training for the Moz Open, Ndu had said he was just learning the basics for now and nothing much. So, it turns out the basics are solid and potent.

Our player's performance is well-congratulated.

We are PowerHouse Chess Club

Cold day? That's not a problem for chess lovers.

Castling Crew Chess Club paid a visit to our club despite the cold weather. We had a great 1 hour 30 min session, together with our trainer CM-Phiwe.

We're looking forward to hosting them again soon, so to polish up game understanding.

PowerHouse Chess Club 🫡 ♟️

As we close the chapter on a successful tournament, our hearts are full of gratitude.

To all the players who showed up, competed, and gave us unforgettable battles on the board, thank you. You are the reason this tournament came alive.

To the parents and guardians of our young players, thank you for your support, trust, and encouragement. Your role did not go unnoticed.

We extend our appreciation to:

• Lovefield Chess Academy and Sisekelo High School(Sisekelo Chess Club) for supporting the event and allowing your players to participate.
• Uneswa Kwaluseni Chess Club for hosting us throughout the tournament.
• Plus 268 Chess Club for providing a venue during the semi-finals and finals
• Trojan Horse Chess Club for the generous support with chess sets
• Eswatini Chess Federation for your guidance and ensuring the tournament was run professionally and in line with FIDE standards

Our supporters, both online and offline — thank you for following, sharing, encouraging, and believing in what we are building.

And finally, to PowerHouse Chess Club management — for the sleepless nights, the planning, the sacrifices, and the commitment to until the very end… we did it!!

"For the Love of the Game"

PowerHouse Chess Club
SIYABONGA KAKHULU NGEKUSISEKELA, WE LOVE YOU ALL🫡♟️

A Final to Remember!

CM Mbongeni Mabuza crowned PowerHouse Chess Cup Champion.

Game One - With the white pieces, Mbongeni did what he does best, he built, pressed, and refined.
The middlegame gave him a slight edge. Nothing immediate, just a position that whispered this is better for White. And that’s all he needed.

Santiago resisted. He fought for balance. Tried to hold the line and steer the game toward a draw.
But Mbongeni doesn’t rush wins, he simplified at the right moments. And when the endgame arrived, the advantage was no longer small but decisive. Santiago fell.

Game Two – Now with the white pieces, Santiago came out exactly as expected, aggressive.

1.e4. Santiago seized space, built pressure, and for a moment. He dictated the pace, pushed Mbongeni onto the back foot. But this is where champions separate themselves.

Mbongeni didn’t panic. He stabilized, exchanging the right pieces and neutralizing the attack. Removing the danger, one layer at a time. Just like that, the storm faded.

What remained was an endgame: knight and pawns vs bishop and pawns. Santiago pushed, searched for chances. But at this level, almost is never enough.

And when the dust settled… there was nothing left to break through, only a sad draw. The Final score was CM Mbongeni 1.5 - 0.5 Santiago.

PowerHouse Chess Cup, "For the Love of the Game" 🫡♟️

Round 2 of the final Match between CM Mbongeni vs Santiago DeNobrega..

The CM is leading the match after winning with the white pieces in round one.

It was a tough fight, where the youngster made some mistakes during the end game hence falling in the hands of the Candidate Master.

Catch round two live via the link on lichess:
https://lichess.org/broadcast/powerhouse-chess-cup-2026-final/round-2/DAnZffDo/0SplpMAX

Or livechesscloud:
https://view.livechesscloud.com/ -a3d8-47b7-bee3-e1e492ecb568

PowerHouse Chess Cup.
"For the Love of the Game".

The dust has settled, and now we have our finalists.

But not without battles that reminded everyone why this stage matters. CM Simphiwe Dlamini vs CM Mbongeni Mabuza. Game one was a test of control.

With the white pieces, CM-Phiwe pushed, probed, and tried to stretch the position but CM-Mbongeni stood firm. Solid. Unshaken.

The game transitioned into a queen and pawn endgame, where precision is everything. Simphiwe had chances. But Mbongeni’s defensive accuracy held the line. Perpetual checks followed and a draw was agreed.

Game two? A complete shift.

This time, it was Mbongeni with white and he didn’t let it slip. From early on, he imposed himself on the game, dictating the pace and restricting Simphiwe’s usual dynamic play.

The pressure built steadily, and when the moment came, Mbongeni didn’t hesitate. A tactical sequence broke out, this time, he came out on top.
Clean. Convincing. Clinical. Final score: 0.5 – 1.5

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Santiago DeNobrega vs Wandiswa Masuku

Santiago DeNobrega came in with intent and never took his foot off the gas.

Game one saw Wandiswa Masuku lose the queen in the middlegame, a decisive blow that Santiago converted without mercy. No complications.

Game two followed a similar script pressure, control, and dominance. Santiago didn’t just win… he crushed Masuku. Final score: 2 – 0

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The Final is Set. Mbongeni Mabuza vs Santiago DeNobrega. And now, there’s nowhere left to hide. The final awaits. PowerHouse Chess Cup.

"For the Love of the Game".

Youth doesn’t mean caution. It means hunger.
And this match will have plenty of it.

When Santiago DeNobrega faces Wandiswa Masuku, it’s more than a youth match. It’s a clash of identities still being shaped, but already dangerous.

Santiago doesn’t wait for the game to come to him.

From the very first moves, he’s asking questions. Hard ones. His style is sharp, tactical, and fearless. Once he senses momentum, he doesn’t slow down. He pushes. He complicates.

He drags his opponent into a fight where calculation becomes survival.

But Wandiswa is built for a different kind of battle.

He's not interested in the early storm, he’s thinking about the end. Move by move, he guides the game toward deeper waters.

Positions simplify, tension stretches, and suddenly you realize… you’re no longer attacking, you’re defending a long, exhausting endgame.

He’s a marathon runner in a room full of sprinters.

And the scariest part? He doesn’t need many chances. One mistake and he converts with quiet efficiency. No noise. No rush. Just control.

The question is simple:

Will the game end in a tactical explosion…
or a slow, grinding squeeze? And that moment… will decide everything.

PowerHouse Chess Cup Semi-finals

When CM Simphiwe Dlamini and CM Mbongeni Mabuza meet, history doesn’t sit in the background… it leans forward.

We’ve seen this before and every single time, it burns.

Simphiwe doesn’t believe in safe chess. He thrives in imbalance, lives in tension, and plays like a man who never lets an opportunity pass him.

He builds pressure relentlessly, wave after wave, until something cracks. There’s no hesitation in his game. No second-guessing. When he commits, he commits fully.

Mbongeni, on the other hand, is the patient hunter.

He doesn’t chase the chaos he studies it. Lets you push, lets you stretch… and then, when the position overreaches by just a fraction, he strikes with precision.

One mistake is all he needs. And against a player like Simphiwe, those moments will come, but spotting them under pressure is another story.

That’s why this matchup is so dangerous.

Expect sharp openings. Expect positions where both kings feel unsafe and every move could swing the evaluation. Expect courage and brilliance.

Most of all, expect a moment where the entire game hangs by a thread.

Because when these two meet, they don’t just play chess… They ignite it.

This is not one to miss.
PowerHouse Chess Cup Semi-finals

The PowerHouse Chess Cup is down to its final four competitors.

This tournament has been a true test of endurance, and the battle for the championship continues with these four remaining players. The question now is, who will emerge victorious?

Could the victor be the formidable CM Mbongeni Mabuza, or perhaps Masuku Wandiswa, both of whom navigated the quarter-finals with relative ease?

Alternatively, will it be Santiago DeNobrega, or CM Simphiwe Dlamini, who overcame a significant challenge against a fellow club member? Their match extended to a blitz tie-break, with CM Dlamini ultimately prevailing with a score of 4-2.

We eagerly anticipate witnessing the culmination of this event this coming Saturday.

The PowerHouse Chess Cup: "For the Love of the Game."

The line up for the quarter-finals is set.

Uneswa Kwaluseni Chess Club will be once again hosting the PowerHouse Chess Cup series. This time around is the final 8. They will be playing two classical games, with 75min +10secs increment.

Who will make it to the semis?

PowerHouse 🫡 ♟️