Africa Chess Weekly Digest
Week Ending 6 November 2026
African chess continues to record exciting activities across the continent, with players, federations and organisers contributing to the growth of the game. From international performances and national championships to junior competitions and upcoming regional events, here are some of the highlights.
DONE: Results, Performances & Highlights
Sahel Festival Elite – Tunisia | 25–31 October 2026
Egyptian IM Hamed Wafa secured second place at the Sahel Festival Elite in Monastir, scoring an impressive 7/9. His performance provided another notable result for an African player on the international stage.
Sources: Chess-Results, Elite final standings | CFMR report | Shorouk News
November 1 Rapid and Blitz Opens – Algeria | 1 November 2026
The competitions took place in Algiers (Centre Culturel Ali Couirat, Draria), with Abderrahmane Tahir emerging winner of the Rapid event, while Ahmed Cherchem claimed the Blitz title. Both events added to the busy chess calendar in North Africa.
Sources: Chess-Results, Rapid | Chess-Results, Blitz
Côte d’Ivoire National Championships – Côte d’Ivoire | 24 October – 1 November 2026
CM Nicolas Cogan won the Open Championship, while Akissi Victoire Sinchie Ayemou emerged champion in the Women’s category. Hamed Stephane Yao completed the list of champions by winning the Junior title.
Sources: Chess-Results, Open Top 10 final (dates from the duplicate Top 10 entry tnr1527439) | Women’s | Junior
Bulawayo Open – Zimbabwe | 31 October – 1 November 2026
CM Tapiwa Jele emerged winner of the Open section, while Kelly Mbondo claimed the Ladies title. The tournament added another competitive event to Zimbabwe’s chess calendar.
Sources: Chess-Results, Open | Ladies | The Djeuce event page (Agape College, Bulawayo)
Windhoek October Festival – Namibia | 30 October – 1 November 2026
IM Dante Beukes won the Elite section, while Immanuel Mboti claimed the Swiss Open title. The festival provided another opportunity for players in Namibia to compete across different sections.
Sources: Chess-Results, Elite | Swiss Open | FIDE 504667, Swiss Open
Maputo City Championships – Mozambique | 24–31 October 2026
Augusto Raul Paulino Junior won the Open Championship, while Lidia Jose Sozinho emerged winner in the Women’s category. Their victories highlighted the competitive activity within Mozambique’s chess community.
Sources: Chess-Results, Open | Women’s | Organiser poster on Brevemito (24, 25 and 31 October)
Madagascar National Team Championship – Madagascar | 30 October – 1 November 2026
ROYAL 1 emerged champions after completing the competition unbeaten. Their performance was a strong demonstration of consistency and teamwork.
Sources: Chess-Results, final team standings (Alasora; 8 wins and 1 draw, 17 match points) | FIDE 508112
Cameroon National Championship – Cameroon | 9–11 October 2026
Vidal Noumbo emerged winner of the national championship held over three days. The result is included as a Central African catch-up from an earlier competition.
Sources: Ch wasess-Results | FIDE report 504362 | Kick442
1st Sardauna of Ilorin National Open Chess Championship – Nigeria | 28–31 October 2026
FM Abdulrahman Abdulraheem Akintoye completed a double victory, winning both the Classical and Blitz competitions. Joseph Sambo also scored 6/7 in the Classical event, level on points with Akintoye, who took first place on tiebreak, making it a notable performance at the inaugural championship.
Sources: Chess-Results, Classical (Open) | Chess-Results, Blitz | FIDE 504656
1st TECA U16 Classics 2026 – Nigeria | 2–5 November 2026
Taiwo, Daniel Olamide (1918) won the 1st TECA U16 Classics at Abiolu School, Igando (Lagos), scoring 8/9. Evbuomwan, Henry Oghogho (1807) finished second on 7.5 points, with Emilola, Adekunle Austin (1765) third on 7. The nine-round under-16 event ran from 2 to 5 November.
Sources: Chess-Results (organiser: Triple E Chess Academy; 9 rounds, 60+30) | FIDE 504982
ONGOING
Kenya National Chess League Super League Playoff – Kenya | 1–8 November 2026
The Super League playoff is bringing the Kenyan league season towards its conclusion. The competition provides an opportunity for participating teams to battle for the league honours.
Sources: Chess-Results (Nairobi; 5-round team round robin; rounds 1–2 played on 1 November, rounds 3–5 scheduled for 7–8 November) | FIDE 500975
FUTURE EVENTS
Edo Chess Classic – Nigeria | 7 November 2026
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Benin City, bringing competitive chess activity to Edo State. It is one of the next events to look out for on the Nigerian chess calendar.
Sources: Chess-Results (Benin City, 7 November only, 6 rounds; organisers Brainy Brain Chess Foundation / Aidia Sports Academy) | Chess Tournament Calendar
Bojanala Circuit Championships 4 of 4 – South Africa | 7 November 2026
The fourth leg of the Bojanala Circuit Championships will take place in Brits, South Africa (Laerskool Brits / Brits Primary School). The event marks the final instalment of the circuit’s four-part championship series.
Sources: Chess-Results | Bojanala Chess Federation
Vetrinox Capital BrainChess Schools Chess Championship – Nigeria | 14 November 2026
The BrainChess initiative is focused on expanding chess participation among schoolchildren, with 200 schools and more than 1,000 students expected to be involved. The championship, set for Celebr8 Centre HQ in Lagos, has a reported prize pool of over ₦20 million, underlining its ambition to make a significant impact on school chess.
Sources: BrainChess Academy event page (14 November, Celebr8 Centre HQ, Lagos; prize pool of over ₦20 million) | Chess-Results (Lagos, 14 November, 7-round Swiss for teams) | The Guardian Nigeria and Sporting Tribune (200 schools and more than 1,000 student players expected)
SWAN Open Masters Finals – Mauritius | 14–29 November 2026
The SWAN Open Masters Finals is among the upcoming competitions on the Mauritian chess calendar. The Mauritius Chess Federation will stage the 9-round, FIDE-rated round robin in Rose Hill.
Sources: Chess-Results (Rose Hill, 14–29 November, FIDE event 506912)
Scholastic Chess Tournament – Ghana | 14 November 2026
The Ghana Chess Association is scheduled to host the 7th Scholastic Chess Tournament at the Presidential Lounge, Accra Sports Stadium, on 14 November. The event forms part of efforts to expand chess participation among young people through school-based programmes. Link to Register: https://forms.gle/355TR6ZmQFnQXmgz6
Sources: Ghana Chess Association (7th Scholastic Chess Tournament, Saturday 14 November, 9am, Presidential Lounge, Accra Sports Stadium, U8–U20 categories)
Sataranji Africa Junior Chess Championship – Kenya | 14 November 2026
The championship will take place at USIU-Africa in Nairobi, bringing together junior players for competition. It offers young African players an opportunity to test their strength against their peers.
Sources: Sataranji Africa events page (USIU Africa, 14 November 2026, 9:00 AM)
Sataranji Africa Rapid and Blitz Championship – Kenya | 15 November 2026
The Rapid and Blitz championship will follow the junior event at USIU-Africa in Nairobi. Players will compete in the faster formats, adding another day of competitive chess to the Sataranji Africa calendar.
Sources: Sataranji Africa events page (USIU Africa, 15 November 2026, 9:00 AM)
African Schools Individual Chess Championships – Namibia | 6–14 December 2026
Windhoek will host the continental schools championship, featuring Open and Girls categories across age groups from U7 to U17. The competition will include Classical and Blitz formats, bringing together young school players from across Africa.
Sources: ACC regulations (PDF) (Mercure Hotel Windhoek; 6 December arrival, 14 December departure; blitz on 13 December) | FIDE 504697 (Open U9)
12th Rencontres Internationales des Échecs Francophones (RIDEF) – Togo | 18–28 December 2026
Lomé will welcome the Francophone chess community for the 12th edition of RIDEF. The gathering will combine competitive chess with training and other activities for members of the Francophone chess community. The competitions run from 19 to 27 December at the Hôtel École Lébénè.
Sources: AIDEF announcement (gathering 18–28 December; competitions 19–27 December) | Chess-Results, classical (19–26 December, 9 rounds, FIDE 504128) | Chess-Results, blitz (27 December, 11 rounds)
More African chess on Africa Chess Media
- Africa Chess Media Rating Roundup: November 2026: Africa’s top players, federations and biggest movers on the November FIDE list.
- African teams at the Samarkand Chess Olympiad: Ghana’s gold, medals for Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya, and where the top teams finished.
