The Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF), in partnership with Crystal Candy, is proud to announce the 2026 ZCF Crystal Candy National Schools Team Chess Championship, a flagship national schools tournament designed to advance youth development, educational excellence, and competitive chess across Zimbabwe.
The championship will bring together primary and secondary schools nationwide, including government, private, ATS institutions, and colleges. The tournament will be conducted under a single national schedule and standardised format, reinforcing fairness, consistency, and high organisational standards across all participating provinces.
Participation is open to all eligible schools that complete registration before the official deadline. Tournament delivery will be coordinated through provincial chess structures, with technical oversight provided by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation. Administration and game coordination will be handled by ZCF–CIE trained tournament secretariat personnel, primarily teachers and headmasters embedded within existing district and provincial education structures. This approach ensures strong governance, sustainability, and accountability at every level of competition.
Each school may register a minimum of two teams, one boys’ team and one girls’ team, with the option to enter additional teams upon payment of the prescribed fees. Schools that are not mixed-gender institutions may field five players in the appropriate category. This inclusive structure ensures broad participation while promoting gender balance and equitable access to competitive chess.
The championship offers a clear pathway to international representation. Four national winning teams — one boys’ and one girls’ team from both the primary and secondary school categories will earn the right to represent Zimbabwe at the African Schools Team Chess Championship. Where available, grants and sponsorship support will be directed towards meeting international travel and participation costs, ensuring that talent is not limited by financial barriers.
In circumstances where a single school secures victories in both boys’ and girls’ categories, the respective runners-up teams will compete for the opportunity to represent Zimbabwe at continental level, ensuring competitive integrity and national representation.
The 2026 ZCF Crystal Candy National Schools Team Chess Championship represents a strategic investment in youth empowerment, education, and national brand visibility, while positioning partners and sponsors at the centre of a growing, structured, and internationally aligned schools chess programme.