Trojan Horse Chess Club

27/09/2026

TOUGH FINALE FOR ESWATINI AS 46TH CHESS OLYMPIAD CONCLUDES

The final round of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad did not go according to plan for Team Eswatini. Entering the ultimate fixtures with hopes of finishing on a high note, both the Open and Women’s teams suffered tough defeats against Gambia and Thailand, respectively, bringing a demanding campaign to a painful close.

In the Open Section, Eswatini faced off against their continental counterparts, Gambia, in what was expected to be an evenly matched encounter. However, the team fell just short, losing by a narrow margin of 2.5 – 1.5.

The standout performance of the final round—and indeed one of the bright spots of the entire tournament;came from debutant Santiago De Nobrega. De Nobrega delivered a crucial win to cap off a remarkable Olympiad debut. His impressive individual run earned him the Candidate Master (CM) title, while also securing conditional approval for the FIDE Master (FM) title.

CM Mbongeni Mabuza fought hard on his board to sn**ch a valuable draw, bringing Eswatini’s tally to 1.5 points. Unfortunately, the momentum stalled on the remaining boards, as both Nkosivile Mabuza and Nhlanhla Simelane went down in similar fashion, sealing the match victory for Gambia.

Despite the loss, the Open side showed flashes of resilience across the 11-round tournament, but fell short of repeating their medal success from previous edition.

For the Eswatini Women’s team, the final round brought a heavy blow. Coming off a 4–0 loss to South Korea in Round 10, the team was desperate to bounce back against a strong Thailand squad.

Instead, history repeated itself in the worst possible way: Eswatini suffered a second consecutive 4–0 whitewash. The complete sweep by Thailand mathematically eliminated any lingering hopes of a category podium finish, crushing the team's ambitions of matching their historic gold-medal performance from 2022.

The back-to-back sweeps served as a stark reminder of the unforgiving level of competition on the world stage, leaving the team with tough lessons to take home despite showing determination in earlier round victories against Antigua and Barbuda, Guam, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia.

While the final round leaves behind a bitter taste of disappointment, the tournament was not without silver linings. The emergence of young talent like Santiago De Nobrega and the valuable international experience gained by first-time Olympians provide a foundation to build upon. As the curtains fall in Uzbekistan, Team Eswatini will now look to regroup, refine their preparation, and return stronger for the next global battle on the 64 squares.

26/09/2026

ESWATINI FIGHTS FOR 2-2 DRAW IN OPEN SECTION AS WOMEN FALL TO SOUTH KOREA IN ROUND 10

Team Eswatini experienced a high-stakes, bittersweet Round 10 at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, as the Open team ground out a draw while the Women’s team faced a tough defeat against formidable opponents.

Open Team Salvages 2–2 Draw Against Equatorial Guinea

In the Open section, Eswatini held their ground in a tense, hard-fought matchup against Equatorial Guinea. The team managed to walk away with a valuable match point after fighting to a 2–2 square tie.

The day’s heroics came down to crucial individual performances from Nkosivile Mabuza and Santiago De Nobrega, both of whom delivered critical wins under pressure to level the overall score. Their resilience ensured Eswatini stayed competitive heading into the tournament's final stretch.

Women’s Team Suffers 4–0 Loss to South Korea

The Women’s section presented a monumental hurdle as Eswatini went head-to-head against a sharp South Korean side. The South Korean squad proved to be a heavy task on the boards, sweeping the match 4–0. Despite putting up a determined fight, the Eswatini ladies were unable to extract a point from the clinical Korean defense.

Tomorrow marks the 11th and final round of the Olympiad. Both national squads head to the boards one last time aiming to finish the prestigious international event on a high note:

Women’s Team: Faces Thailand, seeking to resuscitate their momentum and secure crucial board points to climb higher up the final standings.
Open Team:Matches up against Gambia, looking to build on their Round 10 draw and cap off the tournament with a victory.

26/09/2026

Congratulations

Turlov for Chess is the 8th FIDE PRESIDENT ✨

25/09/2026

RAIN OF CHECKMATES: TEAM ESWATINI DOMINATES ROUND 9 AT 46TH FIDE CHESS OLYMPIAD

It was raining checkmates for Team Eswatini at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, as both the Open and Women’s teams delivered a masterclass in strategy, patience, and ex*****on in Round 9.

In a statement performance, the Women’s team established a commanding 2.5–0.5 lead over Saudi Arabia. With Nolwazi Nkwanyana's match still underway as the final board of the fixture, the team has already secured the overall match victory. Marking their second consecutive win, the result propels Eswatini closer to a potential podium finish in their category, cementing their reputation as one of the tournament's most resolute squads.

Not to be outdone, the Open section carried that momentum forward with a dominant 3–1 victory over Team Tonga.

A great day, a great round, and a monumental double victory for Eswatini chess. With just two rounds remaining, both teams carry tremendous momentum into the final stretch, fully focused on finishing strong and leaving an indelible mark on the global stage.

Player performances after Round 9.

Women section

1. Nolwazi Nkwanyane 4 points ( New title WCM)

2. Nomcebo Sibisi 3 points

3. WCM Sincobile Dlamini 2. 5 points

4.Siphosethu 2.5 points

5. Tivumile Ngozo 0 points.

Open section.

1. Santiago Nobrega 4.5 points ( New title CM)

2. Kwanele Ngwenya 2.5 points

3. Nhlanhla Simelane 2.5 points

4. CM Mbongeni Mabuza 2 points

5. Nkosivile Mabuza 1 point

24/09/2026

MIXED FORTUNES AS SIBISI BATTLES ON BOARD 1

Tension mounts in Round 8 of the Chess Olympiad as the Eswatini women’s national team finds itself on the brink of a crucial victory against Afghanistan, contrasting sharply with a brutal sweep for the Open team.

Women’s Team: Eyes Fixed on Board 1

Leading 2–1 against Afghanistan, the Eswatini ladies are just half a point away from securing a major win. The decisive blow rests on Board 1, where Nomcebo Sibisi remains locked in a high-stakes battle.

With victories already delivered by WCM Sincobile Dlamini and Nolwazi Nkwanyane (offsetting a tough loss by Tivumile Ngozo on Board 3), Eswatini holds the advantage. Should Sibisi hold her opponent to a draw or push through for a win, team Eswatini will seal the series (2.5–1.5 or 3–1) and claim a priceless set of match points to keep their Group E podium dreams alive.

Open Team Sinks Against Maldives

In the Open section, it was a day to forget for team Eswatini. The squad suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat against a spirited Maldives side. The setback severely dents their hopes of a podium finish in Group E, leaving them with just three rounds remaining to salvage their tournament camp

23/09/2026

LIVING WATERS PRIMARY SCHOOL TO HOST PRESTIGIOUS 2026 ISASA CHESS FESTIVAL AT THE GEORGE HOTEL

The stage is officially set for the 2026 ISASA Chess Festival(Eswatini), with Living Waters Primary School taking center stage as the host school for this year's event. The tournament will be held at the prestigious The George Hotel in Manzini.

23/09/2026

ESWATINI OPEN TEAM SECURES HARD-FOUGHT DRAW AGAINST ISLE OF MAN AS WOMEN FACE TOUGH HURDLE

Eswatini’s Open chess team fought to a tense 2-2 draw in their latest clash against the Isle of Man, while the women’s side encountered a difficult day at the board.

The Open section set a promising tone early on when in-form Nhlanhla Simelane sparked momentum with a swift win on board 4, followed suit by a solid victory from the ever-green Santiago Nobrega. However, the Isle of Man struck back when board 1 CM Mbongeni let his position slip in the middle game, and Kwanele Ngwenya was unable to hold off his opponent, leaving the match deadlocked at 2-2.

In the women's section, it was a bad day at the office as the team fell 4-0 to a resolute Trinidad and Tobago line-up.

Round 8 tomorrow. The crucial selection choices ahead will decide whether to stick with the current Open line-up or reshuffle the women's team to regroup for the upcoming round.

23/09/2026

ESWATINI AIM TO BOUNCE BACK AT CHESS OLYMPIAD FOLLOWING REST DAY

After a crucial rest day to recalibrate, Team Eswatini returns to action at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, set to launch a tactical rebound in Round 7 following setbacks in Round 6.

Both national squads enter Wednesday's encounters eager to climb the standings. In the Open section, Eswatini is set to cross boards with the Isle of Man, while the Women's team gears up for a tough matchup against Trinidad and Tobago.

To refresh team dynamics, Head Coach Qiniso has reshuffled the lineups for the upcoming games. In the Open division, Santiago Nobrega makes a return to the starting four, providing much-needed stability and tactical depth on the board. Meanwhile, in the Women’s section, Coach Qiniso has made a strategic shift by dropping Nolwazi Nkwanyane, opting to field a re-energized quartet to tackle the Caribbean side.

With the brief respite offering time to review opening preparations and correct technical errors from Round 6, both Eswatini teams will be pushing for decisive victories to make their mark in the tournament's second half.

Our predictions

Open
Eswatini 4-O Isle of Man.

Ladies section
Eswatini 2:2 Trinidad

What's your prediction?

21/09/2026

ESWATINI CHESS TEAM SET TO RESET AND REFOCUS AFTER TOUGH SIXTH ROUND.

After six intense rounds of play at the Chess Olympiad, team Eswatini faced a challenging Day 6 at the boards. The open section fought valiantly but ultimately fell 0.5–3.5 to San Marino, while the ladies’ team endured a tough 0–4 sweep against a formidable Panama side.

While the results were far from what the team hoped for, the timing of the schedule brings a welcome respite: tomorrow is the official rest day.

Six rounds down and five to go; this break comes at the perfect moment. It offers our players a chance to step away from the engine analysis, clear their minds, and recharge both mentally and physically. Chess at this level is as much a test of endurance and resilience as it is of strategy, and taking time to regroup is key to bouncing back.

Rest up, team! We wish both our Open and Ladies squads a restful day off. Come back fresh, strong, and ready to tackle the final five rounds on a high note.

21/09/2026

THE UNFORGIVING GAME: A TOUGH ROAD IN EMALAHLENI

Chess has a funny way of keeping even the best of us humble.

Two of our top club players—both Candidate Masters—recently made the trip to South Africa to test their mettle at the Emalahleni Spring Open. High hopes and sharp preparation were in the air, but over six grueling rounds, the royal game lived up to its reputation: utterly unforgiving.

When the dust settled, both CMs finished on 2.5/6; a result that fell well short of their standards and left the team with a tournament to forget. In open events of this caliber, small margins, missed tactics, or a single lapse in time management can completely turn a game. At this level, nobody gives away easy points.

While the scorecard isn't what anyone hoped for, every tough outing carries a lesson. A setback like this isn't a dead end—it’s just a prompt to re-evaluate, refine, and come back stronger.

It’s back to the drawing board for our CMs. The work starts now, and we have no doubt they’ll bounce back stronger in the next one.