DEFENDING champions Dominican Convent reached the 2025 edition of the Crystal Candy National Schools Team Chess tournament finals after finishing first in the girls' competition at the provincial finals over the weekend.
The Harare school won the tournament for secondary schools at the finals, which were held at Northlea High School in Bulawayo along with Gokwe South primary school, Gwehava, and will be looking to defend their title this year.
Dominican Convent will be joined by two other teams, Girls High School and Queen Elizabeth School, who finished second and third, respectively, to make it to the finals.
The teacher in charge at Dominican Convent, Phyllis Shamuyarira, was delighted to make another finals appearance.
"It was a tough competition for the girls, but I'm happy their hard work paid off by winning the slot to represent the province in the final. We are very proud of them, and we have already started preparing for the finals, and I'm sure with the support we always get from the Dominican Convent School leadership, the girls will do us proud come the finals," she said.
In the boys' competition, Chitungwiza-based school Zengeza High 1 ruled the roost, taking first place at the provisional stage to reach the national finals.
St George's and Harare High settled for second and third place, respectively, to book a ticket to the finals of the prestigious schools' competition.
This year, the finals are pencilled for Manicaland province.
Last year, a record total of 125 primary and secondary schools took part in the event, with 37 of them making it to the grand finale, which was held at Northlea High School in Bulawayo.
