The National Chess Championship of Malawi took place at the Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu from 14th to 18th April 2022.
The event served as a qualification for the 44th Chess Olympiad with the top 5 players in each category making it to the national team. Twenty-six players battled it out in the Open and 13 in the Women’s section.
FM Joseph Mwale, Malawi’s highest-rated player (2151), won the Malawi National Championship with 7 points out of 9 rounds.
16-year-old Priyasha Shriyan dominated the Women’s section and won it with 8/9, two points ahead of the runner-up. It is the second time she has won the Malawi Championship. The first time was in 2020.

Altogether with the National Champions, Malawi disclosed the National team composition for the upcoming 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai:
Malawi Team for Chess Olympiad 2022 (Open section):
- FM Joseph Mwale
- Stanford Chibambo
- CM Joseph Nyambalo
- Ernest Matola
- CM Alfred Chimthere
Malawi Team for Chess Olympiad 2022 (Women’s section):
- Priyasha Shriyan
- Tapiwa Banda
- Tupokiwe Msukwa
- WFM Linda Jambo Chaononga
- Martha Kapalamula
Read more: Sri Lanka National Champions and Teams for Chess Olympiad 2022 announced / India teams for Chess Olympiad 2022 announced
Final rankings – Malawi National Chess Championship 2022
Rk. | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
1 | Mwale Joseph | MAW | 2151 | 7 | 0 | 1945 | 48 |
2 | Chiwambo Stanford | MAW | 1875 | 6.5 | 1 | 1985 | 51 |
3 | Nyambalo Josephy | MAW | 2037 | 6.5 | 0 | 1869 | 50 |
4 | Matola Ernest | MAW | 1947 | 6 | 0 | 1962 | 49 |
5 | Chimthere Alfred | MAW | 2048 | 6 | 0 | 1900 | 48 |
6 | Mphungu Gerald | MAW | 2084 | 6 | 0 | 1848 | 43 |
7 | Mwale George | MAW | 2049 | 5.5 | 1 | 1843 | 47 |
8 | Mkamanga Rumbani | MAW | 1754 | 5.5 | 0 | 1881 | 41 |
9 | Mwangupili Franscisco | MAW | 1874 | 5 | 1 | 1745 | 39 |
10 | Nthala Bright | MAW | 1721 | 5 | 0 | 1910 | 42 |
11 | Mawango Davie | MAW | 1881 | 4.5 | 0 | 1910 | 44 |
12 | Shaba Martin | MAW | 1658 | 4.5 | 0 | 1899 | 43 |
13 | Nyama Peter | MAW | 1858 | 4.5 | 0 | 1833 | 42 |
14 | Chiona Richard | MAW | 1963 | 4.5 | 0 | 1748 | 42 |
15 | Msikiimodzi Mailosi | MAW | 1797 | 4.5 | 0 | 1740 | 36 |
16 | Mpinganjira Stanley | MAW | 1678 | 4 | 1 | 1809 | 39 |
17 | Nathambwe Hubert | MAW | 1863 | 4 | 0 | 1792 | 34 |
18 | Mwazozo Hope | MAW | 1784 | 3.5 | 0 | 1788 | 37 |
19 | Mpilo Mizere | MAW | 1650 | 3.5 | 0 | 1782 | 39 |
20 | Kalambo Praise | MAW | 1788 | 3.5 | 0 | 1777 | 37 |
21 | Msendema Willard | MAW | 1719 | 3.5 | 0 | 1722 | 33 |
22 | Chimkute Ronald | MAW | 1937 | 3 | 0 | 1821 | 42 |
23 | Shaba Vitumbiko | MAW | 1557 | 3 | 0 | 1781 | 35 |
24 | Matundu Richard | MAW | 1552 | 2.5 | 1 | 1795 | 35 |
25 | Jere Joseph | MAW | 1722 | 2.5 | 1 | 1725 | 35 |
26 | Msukwa Kezzie | MAW | 1648 | 2.5 | 1 | 1717 | 31 |
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Final rankings – Malawi Women’s National Chess Championship 2022:
Rk. | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
1 | Priyasha Shriyan | MAW | 1583 | 8 | 0 | 1252 | 40 |
2 | Banda Tapiwa | MAW | 1114 | 6 | 0 | 1273 | 41 |
3 | Msukwa Tupokiwe | MAW | 1371 | 5.5 | 2 | 1234 | 41 |
4 | Jambo Linda | MAW | 1450 | 5.5 | 1 | 1227 | 42 |
5 | Kapalamula Martha | MAW | 1155 | 5.5 | 0 | 1280 | 42 |
6 | MpinganjIra Ellen | MAW | 1360 | 4.5 | 0 | 1197 | 40 |
7 | Namangale Susan | MAW | 1301 | 4.5 | 0 | 1183 | 39 |
8 | Msiska Royce | MAW | 1271 | 4.5 | 0 | 1148 | 41 |
9 | Tadeyo Charity | MAW | 1096 | 4 | 0 | 1300 | 40 |
10 | Khanyera Madalitso | MAW | 0 | 3.5 | 0 | 1252 | 38 |
11 | Kumwenda Tina | MAW | 1195 | 2.5 | 0 | 1225 | 39 |
12 | Shaba Rexa | MAW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1195 | 36 |
13 | Trapence Caroline | MAW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
