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Uganda

2nd WSTC Qualifying Stage Ends in Africa: Uganda, Kenya and South Africa Qualify for FIDE/ISTC World Schools Team Chess Championship Grand Finale!

by Ogunsiku Babatunde July 13, 2026

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

The African Continental Stage of the FIDE/ISCF World Schools Team Chess Championship came to a memorable conclusion in Stellenbosch, South Africa, as Uganda’s Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School emerged as the continental champions, after an outstanding unbeaten campaign.

Joined on the podium by Kenya’s Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School and South Africa’s Welgemoed Primary School, the three schools secured Africa’s qualification spots for the World Schools Team Championship Grand Final scheduled for December.

Hosted at the Coetzenburg Centre, the championship brought together 26 school teams from 22 African countries in the first-ever African edition of the continental stage. Beyond the fierce competition across the chessboards, the tournament celebrated friendship, cultural exchange, and the growing impact of chess in education across the continent through workshops, masterclasses, quizzes, and interactive activities that kept players engaged throughout the week.

Organized by the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) and FIDE, in partnership with the African Chess Confederation and Chess South Africa, the championship enjoyed the support of Freedom Holding Corp., the General Partner of the ISCF. Under the leadership of Freedom Holding Corp. CEO and ISCF President Timur Turlov, the organization continues to invest significantly in expanding educational chess opportunities worldwide, making continental championships such as the African stage possible for hundreds of young players.

Uganda Finish Unbeaten to Claim the Continental Title

The final day began with Uganda’s Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School and Kenya’s Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School tied at the top of the standings on 10 match points after six rounds.

Both favourites maintained their momentum in Round 7. Uganda swept Madagascar’s Lycée Privé Hibiscus 4-0, while Kenya defeated Namibia’s Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 3-1 to remain level heading into the decisive final round.

With the Swiss pairing system preventing another meeting between the two leaders, the championship would be decided by their performances in separate matches.

Uganda produced another commanding display, defeating South Africa’s Holy Cross Primary School 3½-½ to finish on 14 match points from a possible 16. Their remarkable campaign featured six victories, two drawn matches, and an impressive 24½ game points—the highest score recorded in the tournament.

Speaking after lifting the continental trophy, team coach Patrick Mukasa reflected on what the victory meant for both the players and their community.

I’m so humbled for this fantastic performance. I believe in my boys because we are the top seed, the best in the country, the best in the region. These are kids from an academy in the ghetto, disadvantaged kids, vulnerable to all the problems that come with that. I trained them so that they can get the opportunities that come with chess. Chess is improving them, they are moving around the world, and I’m so proud that wonderful brains from such areas can serve our country and the entire world.
– Patrick Mukasa

Mukasa is also the founder of the Kamwokya Teens Chess Club and Academy, where the young champions train.

Kenya Earn Silver, South Africa Celebrate Bronze

Kenya entered the final round needing victory to keep pressure on Uganda but were held to a tense 2-2 draw by Zimbabwe’s Budiriro 4 Primary School after appearing to control the match. The result left the Kenyan side with the silver medals, capping an excellent tournament.

One of the heartwarming stories of the championship came from the Kenyan squad, where siblings Davidson, Trevor and Patricia Waweru competed together, sharing not only a silver-medal finish but also the unique experience of representing their school and country as a family.

The race for the final qualification place also went down to the wire. South Africa’s Welgemoed Primary School drew 2-2 against Namibia after a tense final game, but the single match point they secured proved sufficient to edge Holy Cross Primary School by one point and claim the bronze medal, ensuring the host nation will also be represented at the Grand Final.

Final Team Standings

Gold: Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School (Uganda)

Silver: Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School (Kenya)

Bronze: Welgemoed Primary School (South Africa)

The top three schools will represent Africa at the World Schools Team Championship Grand Final in December, where they will face the strongest qualifying teams from the Asian, American and European Continental Stages.

A Celebration of African School Chess

The closing ceremony celebrated not only the champions but every participant who made history by competing in the first African Continental Stage of the World Schools Team Championship. Players, coaches, officials and parents gathered for the final evening, which featured a highlights presentation, cultural performances, medal ceremonies and messages of appreciation to the organizations that made the event possible.

Special recognition was given to Freedom Holding Corp. for its continued commitment to global chess development, alongside the African Chess Confederation, Chess South Africa, the Western Cape Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Stellenbosch University and ChessBase. Their collective support helped deliver a landmark championship that showcased the tremendous growth of school chess across Africa.

As Uganda lifted the championship trophy to a standing ovation and the country’s national anthem echoed through the venue, the curtain came down on a historic week that united young chess players from across the continent through competition, education and cultural exchange.

With the African Continental Stage concluded, attention now turns to the American Continental Stage in San José, Costa Rica, from August 11 to 16, before the world’s best qualifying school teams meet once again at the World Schools Team Championship Grand Final in December.

July 13, 2026 0 comments

Cape Town Set to Host Africa’s Road to The FIDE/ISCF World School Team Chess Championship!

by Ogunsiku Babatunde June 22, 2026

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

From July 6 to 11, Cape Town, South Africa, will host Africa’s qualifying stage of the FIDE/ISCF World School Team Chess Championship (WSTC), a prestigious global competition supported by FIDE, the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), and Kazakhstan-based Fin-Tech company Freedom, founded by Timur Turlov.

*Timur Turlov | Image Credit: Olzhabay Arian*

The winning African school team will earn the right to represent the continent at the World School Team Chess Championship Finals scheduled for December, where continental champions from around the globe will compete for the world title.

A Growing Global Competition

The World School Team Chess Championship is one of the newest international team events for young chess players. The inaugural edition was staged in Kazakhstan in 2023, and since 2024, the championship has been officially organized under the auspices of FIDE in partnership with the International School Chess Federation.

This year’s competition follows a continental qualification format, with each region producing a representative for the global finals. The Central Asian qualifier, held in Kazakhstan in April, was won by Uzbekistan’s Wisdom School, becoming the first team to secure its place in December’s championship.

*Central Asian qualifier, held in Kazakhstan | Image Credit: Olzhabay Arian*

Cape Town now takes center stage as Africa welcomes school teams from twenty (20) National Chess Federations including but not limited to Nigeria (Platform Schools), Namibia (Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool), Kenya (Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School), Lesotho (St. Stephen’s Diocesan High School), Eswatini (Hillside High School), South Africa (Wiehan Van der Merwe). The tournament features players between the ages of 8 and 14, highlighting some of Africa’s brightest young chess talents.

*Nigeria’s Platform School – School Team Champions! Image Credit: Ashrof/Othims Visuals*

Beyond the competition, participants will benefit from an educational programme comprising masterclasses, workshops and interactive learning sessions designed to nurture the next generation of chess players.

Following the African qualifier, continental championships will also be staged across Europe, North America and South America before the world’s best school teams gather for the Grand Final in December.

Strengthening Chess Development Across Africa

The championship reflects FIDE’s growing commitment to expanding chess in developing regions.

*FIDE* *President Arkady Dvorkovich | Image Credit: Olzhabay Arian*

According to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Africa and the Americas are rapidly becoming important centres for chess development.

Speech by President Arkady Dvorkovich | *Image Credit: Olzhabay Arian*

“In recent years, we have seen significant progress in chess infrastructure and school programmes, and these championships will further accelerate that growth,” he said.

The initiative is also strongly supported by Timur Turlov, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp., who has played a leading role in promoting school chess internationally.

“I am very pleased to see the expansion of continental school championships into Africa and the Americas. These initiatives are a crucial step in enhancing youth engagement and building sustainable chess ecosystems in both regions,” Turlov said.

The Man Behind The Initiative

Timur Turlov has become one of the world’s foremost private supporters of chess. In September 2024, he was elected President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), a FIDE-affiliated organisation dedicated to promoting chess in schools.

His company, Freedom Holding Corp., operates in 22 countries and is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York. Through its flagship Freedom SuperApp, customers can access banking services, investments, travel bookings, shopping and a wide range of digital lifestyle services within a single platform.

Timur Turlov on The Chessboard | *Image Credit: Olzhabay Arian*

Beyond business, Turlov invests more than US$15 million annually in the development of chess worldwide. Since becoming President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in 2023, Kazakhstan has hosted several major international events, including the FIDE World Championship and numerous continental and global team competitions. During this period, Kazakh athletes have won 448 medals at official international chess events.

His contributions have earned him national recognition, including Kazakhstan’s prestigious Order of Parasat and the country’s Best Sports Patron award.

Earlier this year, Freedom further strengthened its commitment to the game by acquiring ChessBase, one of the world’s leading chess software, database and analytical platforms. The company has announced plans to invest €5 million into the platform while making its services available to Freedom’s more than 14 million clients.

As Africa’s finest young players prepare to compete in Cape Town, the championship represents far more than a battle for medals. It offers an opportunity for young talents to gain international exposure, strengthen educational values through chess, and inspire a new generation of players across the continent.

Partnership Handshake between Timur Turlov and Arkady Dvorkovich | *Image Credit: Olzhabay Arian*

For one African school team, the journey to becoming world champions begins in Cape Town.

June 22, 2026 0 comments

Africa Report Chess News Election News Olympiad

Africa Chess Confederation (ACC) Elections 2022

by Ogunsiku Babatunde April 27, 2022

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

Four (4) years ago, the fairest and most interesting Africa Chess Confederation (ACC) elections were held in Batumi, Georgia.

Three candidates were going for the position of leadership during the period, namely:
Mr. Lewis Ncube from Zambia
Dr. Essoh Essis from Cote d’Ivoire
Mr. Tshepo Sitale from Botswana

During the electioneering process, these three (3) were neck and neck, bringing up issues that needed addressing in the ACC structure and with federations.

*Dr Essoh Essis at the Batumi Chess Olympiad*

Issues cropped up in the Ivorian federation about Dr. Essoh’s leadership and a parallel federation seemingly evolved from the nation. Although, the ministry of sports in Cote d’Ivoire has subsequently annulled the parallel federation, with FIDE acknowledging that only FIDEC is recognized by the ruling body, the country has not seen development since. Why? According to Dr. Essoh, the opposition camp have refused to come out for election. According to Mario Kpan, no fair election has been called for. A story for another day.

*Mr. Tshepo Sitale at the Batumi Chess Olympiad*

The issue of arbiter selection also came up, which entangled Mr. Tshepo Sitale, who did not accept that he was involved in such. He mentioned, “ACC is the body saddled with the responsibility of relating with Fide as regards arbiters from her jurisdiction”.

*President Lewis Ncube| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

There was also the issue of financial misappropriation against Mr. Lewis (who was the incumbent). However, some documentation was used to debunk the said misappropriation and showing how the funds were used at the time.

The election came and Mr. Tshepo withdrew from the race, leaving the duo of Mr. Lewis Ncube and Dr. Essoh Essis. The electorates cast their votes, and Mr. Lewis Ncube won by a single vote margin (while there was a candidate who did not cast his vote).

*A winner’s smile| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

Four (4) years on, barring the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, herein is where we are as a continent:

South Africa finally has a new federation president, and there is no contesting it. South Africa had power tussles for over half a decade. However, this has now been resolved and chess is gaining pace again in the nation “Inspiring New Ways”.

There are a few federations being handled by the FIDE Reverse Delegate. This means that there are unresolved issues plaguing such nations, and the appointment of a Fide representative to handle the resolution of such matters was imperative.

Kenya has become a major force. After handing over a car to the Kenya National Chess Champion in the final year of his leadership, Mr. Bernard Wanjala has once again delivered on consistency. The works he has done in Kenya Chess speaks for itself, with consistent quality chess events, most recently the Kenya Open (which had Ugandans claiming the top three [3] positions).

ACC set up physical office in Zambia. One of the key campaign promise of the current administration is that they will set up an office for the confederation. News reaching us is that the office is now in place.

While some federation presidents still hope to see the office physically, it is believed that funds have been expended to the achievement of this feat (as captured in the report provided to federation presidents. This is an important achievement, and it will go down as one of the best moves by the current administration.

ACC set up commissions. During the last campaign, there was a call to delegate various parts of the confederation in other to reduce the workload on the president. This is meant to also give more people from various parts of the continent a sense of belonging to the ACC. In as much as the commissions were set up, most of them have seemingly not been so functional, with the only vocal commission being the Players Commission.

Now, the ACC elections are upon us once again and the incumbent has decided to throw his hat in the ring once again. Mr. Lewis Ncube has declared his intentions to leading Africa for another four (4) years.

Although, this came as a surprise to a number of federation leaders, there has been rumors of those that might take up the challenge, but they are yet to declare their intentions to run for the highest chess office in Africa Chess.

*Mr. Noel Fumey| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

Former Fide General Secretary, Mr. Noel Fumey has consistently called on Mr. Lewis to take up an advisory role (considering his fatherly nature and wealth of experience), and allow a younger, more vibrant and active individual to take the reins. However, we are yet to see if Mr. Lewis will take this plea or forge ahead with his candidacy.

Looking at some of the possible candidates for the position of leadership on the African front, we would also want to find out your opinion in the poll afterwards.

Do kindly note that these individuals are just possible candidates, and they did not inform us at Africa Chess Media of their intentions to run for the office of the ACC president.

*Engr Tshepiso Lopang with the president of the Botswana Chess Federation* *Motlhokomedi Thabano| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

Ms. Tshepiso Lopang (Botswana) – Currently a member of the ACC board, and has been in the Africa chess scene for close to two (2) decades. A Technician by profession BEng in Mechatronics, MSc in Professional Engineering, Qualified International Arbiter, WIM and FIDE instructor. She is also a vibrant young woman and an enterprising person, who sees a plan and works towards the achievement of that plan. Being the year of the women in Chess, could she be the link to get Africa Chess going to the next level?

*Dr. Hesham Elgendy| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

Dr. Hesham Elgendy (Egyptian Chess Federation) – President of the Egyptian Chess Federation, as well as the Head of Red Sea Association (comprised of some African and Middle-Eastern countries). His achievements as the Egyptian Chess Federation President includes (but not limited to) the making of Grandmasters, amazing partnerships with companies to develop chess, as well as obtaining the backing of the government to have chess as a curriculum in schools.

*Dr. Essoh Essis casting his vote at the Batumi Chess Olympiad| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

Dr. Essoh Essis (Cote d’Ivoire) – He was the president of the first African federation to bring a sitting World Champion to Africa (documented). He and his team achieved this feat when the Cotê d’Ivoire Chess Federation (FIDEC) partnered with Kasparov Chess Foundation and Canal+, to have one of the editions of the Grand Chess Tour (2019) in the country. The nation’s chess industry has since been plagued with internal strife that has crumbled chess activities to the barest minimum.

*Engr Emmanuel Mwaka| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

Eng Emmanuel Mwaka (Uganda Chess Federation) – President of the Uganda Chess Federation, and a brilliant engineer who has held the federation together over the years. He voice has been heard at various levels of FIDE meetings, standing for Africa Chess and changing the way the world views the continent.

*Mr. Bernard Wanjala casting his vote| Image Credit: Jacinta Odongo*

Mr. Bernard Wanjala (Chess Kenya) – President of the most exciting chess federation on the continent at present. Achieved the feat of presenting a brand new car as Champion’s prize at the National Championship back to back (two different players won the event). He has also shown other Federations on the continent that it is possible to look within and build from bottom-up. His partnerships, building bridges with those who opposed him, and accountability continue to stand him in good stead to lead the nation.

With the power to vote, which of these candidates would you vote for? Furthermore, would you rather Africa stick with the current leader, Mr. Lewis Ncube? Make your voice heard.

April 27, 2022 5 comments

Africa Report Country Reports

Chess in Uganda 🇺🇬

by Kennedy Namwanza July 23, 2021

written by Kennedy Namwanza

My_Crush wins Grandprix Edition 2

My_crush shocked Ugandans when he went on to win the second edition of the UG grandprix events for the first time.

The Bushenyi-based flag master snatched the top spot from Pmad1995, who had led the event for over 30 minutes.

My_crush, also known as Mugoda Solomon, is a well-known lichess ultra bullet expert and a semi-retired over the board (OTB) player. The second edition of the event was played on the 9th of July, 2021 at 8:30pm EAT.

My_crush took the top spot with 55 points, Pmad1995 was pushed to second place by a point and ended with 54 points, while IwantanIphone secured third place with 46 points. The UG grand prix continues with 3 more tournaments remaining to be played in July.

In the ladies category, WFM Namaganda Christine finished as the top lady with 20 points, and with a performance rating of 2155.

Tournament link

https://lichess.org/tournament/C7ygA7fR

In the Kiddies section, King_of_vica lifted the trophy (with 64 points) ahead of his brother Nyghtguard who finished in second place (with 54 points). Jol-Deng2005 scooped the third spot (with 40 points), making his first podium appearance of the month.

Tournament link

https://lichess.org/tournament/gpZbEDl2

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi represents Uganda at the FIDE 2021 Chess World Cup

In other news, International Master Arthur Ssegwanyi continued to prove that the number 1 spot in East Africa belongs to him and no one else. The 2409 rated player left Uganda on the 10th of July, 2021, to participate at the Chess World Cup, which is being played in Sochi, Russia. He was accompanied by his mother and the National coach, FM Wanyama Harold.

IM Arthur, GM Nihal, IA Kisuze at the Fide Chess World Cup 2021|Official website Eric Rosen

The event that is scheduled to run from the 12th of July to the 6th of August, 2021 attracted about 206 strong chess players from all over the world. The Chess world cup uses the knockout format. This implies that whoever loses after each round, jumps onto the nearest plane back home.

Arthur faced India’s number 5, GM Nihal Sarin, who is rated 2655 (as of July 1st, 2021) in round 1. In his first game, Arthur played 1. e4 and GM Nihal replied with 1….e6

A certain individual, who calls himself tournament_line, claims that whenever he sees the French, it is 1-0 in his favor, and on seeing GM Nihal’s response, he immediately declared the game lost. He added that the best the GM could get was a draw.

According to results from personal research, very few players considered the French defense a good opening. As a matter of fact, some have gone to the extent to naming themselves “The French defense punishers!”.

Well, anyone is free to say whatever they feel like, thanks to freedom of speech! In one country, someone says he is the national champion, while another one claims he’s the third best! You can’t blame them, it’s a free world and everyone is entitled to their opinion.

*Nihal Sarin vs Arthur Ssegwanyi |* Official website Eric Rosen

Arthur played well, gaining a slight advantage out of the opening which he carefully and slowly built on to a point where the chances of him losing the game where thrown out the window.

However, an advantage wasn’t enough to win and Arthur still had a lot to prove to the young GM. All hell broke lose after he played a passive 40. Qd2, an inaccuracy where the best option was Qh1 preparing Qh4. Who knew things could get ugly pretty fast even for a player as strong and as experienced as Arthur. After this move, sadness was painted all over the faces of the fans as they knew exactly what was going to happen next (thanks to the engines, which has made it easier to follow games).

This was the moment Nihal had been waiting for. A chance to get into Arthur’s territory and cause commotion. He used this chance to quickly realign his forces and attack Arthur’s not-so-good looking king. He played Nf7 preparing to anchor his knight at g5 exploiting the fact that Bxg5 would end the game shortly for white, as he would have to deal with the fierce-looking f5 and g5 pawns.

There was no better way to hold the game after Nihal’s 49. …Qh4 and the killer 50. ….Rg4, putting white’s king in a defenseless and hopeless situation. Arthur resigned after failing to find a solution to Nihal’s multiple threats.

Game 2 of round 1 was played the following day and it ended in a draw with Nihal Sarin advancing to round 2 of the event and knocking Arthur out.

It should be noted that this was the second time Arthur would feature at the chess world cup. His first was during the 2015 edition.
Most people are happy with his performance and would like to appreciate his efforts for lifting the Ugandan flag high.

Stay tuned for more updates

July 23, 2021 1 comment

Africa Report Chess News Country Reports Individual

This Week In Chess Uganda – Ugandan chess updates

by Kennedy Namwanza July 10, 2021

written by Kennedy Namwanza

Ugandan Grand Prix Series

The Uganda Grand Prix series kicked off on the 2nd of July, 2021. This is an online event that is aimed at helping Ugandan chess players to earn financial returns while playing the game of chess.

@Emmanuelking emerged victor of the first edition of this prized event, which is being played every Friday of the month at 20:30HRS. The lichess.org platform plays host to the tournament and it is sponsored by a group of chess enthusiasts in Uganda.

Points are awarded to all participants according to their positions. The total of these scores (after a series of weeks) is then used to determine those who receive cash prizes at the end of the month. This event is famously known as an ELO dumping site because it is hard for one to finish the event with the same rating they started with.

The account @emmanuelking belongs to Musasizi Emmanuel, the reigning National junior champion. He has held on to the title since 2019. Close sources revealed that the young junior was signed up by Kireka Chess Club, one of the strongest chess clubs in Uganda.

@Emmanuelking scored 48 points and took up the top spot with an incrediblee rating performance of 2416 through 18 games. Second place had FM @Harunov and semi-retired @rick_and_morty clinched the third place.
WCM Shakira Ampaire (@sharklion) was the best lady with 25 points and a performance rating of 2123.

Tournament link:
https://lichess.org/tournament/pBXIjtoK

The Kids grand Prix was played on the 3rd of July, 2021 at 17:30 HRS. @Nyghtguard emerged winner of this section with 67 points achieved from 16 games. The @Nyghtguard account belongs to 12 year-old Nygaard Ajiri, the face behind the tears and pain of many online 2200s and 2300s in Uganda. In second place came @Jacqueskennedy with 32 points and Levron15 was third with 31 points.

Tournament link
https://lichess.org/tournament/MwSvUp6r

Team Uganda wins online team battle

Team Uganda showcased class when they came from behind to win the first edition of the Junior EA chess team match. The event had 4 participants from 2 countries (Uganda and Kenya) and the Scheveningen system was used to match the players. Here, each player on one team played each player on the other and the team with the highest number of games won was the winner.

Team Uganda was represented by Nygaard Ajiri and Matthew Mwase while team Kenya sent in Timothy Mwabu and Robert McLigeyo. The match was played in two sets with @Nygaard versus Mwabu and Matthew taking on Robert during the first set. Four (4) games were played in three different time controls i.e. 5|0, 3|0 and 3|2.

By the end of set 1, Kenya was enjoying a comfortable 2 point lead, little did they know that the match was far from over. Sources reported that plans of how to spend the prize money were already underway. This was this rumor that initiated a series of events that would later on force the Kenyan wananchi to unwillingly give up the top spot.

Set 2 was a matter of life and death, as it was the final set to determine the winner of the match. Uganda had two choices; overturn the scores and redeem themselves or lose some more games and the match.

Well, to them it was only one choice; winning the match. With a lot at stake, they made a significant comeback and went on to win the match with a 1 point difference, bagging Kshs 3000. The final score was 24.5 – 23.5.
We managed to get a statement from one of the fans who preferred to stay anonymous and the following were his remarks about the match:

“I think the set 1 blows sunk in deep and the Ugandan side had no choice but retaliate in set 2. Their opponents were of course tough and played extremely well, but the fellas were not ready to export any shillings to masai land. I have to say it was an entertaining match and the future of Ugandan chess is bright.”
Kenyan fan

Nygaard(@Nyghtguard) Vs Mcligeyo(@Sneakovic3)

>
Matthew(Mmwase) Vs Mwabu(Conqueror_t)

The event was organized by Prox Chess house (Kenya) and UCCM (Uganda). The games were played on Sunday, 4th of July 2021 at 09:00HRS on the Lichess platform.

Collins Thumps Jalagatha

The Ugandan government continuously advises its citizens to make investments so that they can generate some extra cash. Jalagatha Ivan took the advice seriously which was an excellent idea. However, he did not make sufficient research about what to invest in.

After thinking about a few ideas, he finally chose to take on Nyombi Collins in a prized match, to make some quick cash. Due to the total lockdown in the country, he had to walk over 5 kilometers to Nyombi’s place in Kisaasi; this is so that he could double his money real quick.

Well, the odds were in his favor, given his experience and strength. He was also confident enough that he was going to win with ease. In fact, some people argued that Nyombi wasn’t going to put up a fight!
Now, for those who watch Nat Geo wild, you should be well versed with the phrase “sometimes, food fights back!”.

In this case, the food fought back and actually won. Collins gave Jalagatha a serious beating and left him reciting Burna boy’s “Wetin man go do” song. They played 16 games and Collins won 9 – 7 and bagged $17 while staying home! The match was played on the 4th of July, 2021 at 11:00HRS.

Jalagatha wasn’t happy with the result of match, so he asked for a rematch. He found it clever to play again and win is money back but alas, the gods were not on his side! The rematch ended in tears for the young fella. Nyombi lashed him 9.5 – 5.5 in another set.

The Busitema Cup Kicks Off

In a bid to keep the players active and in shape, Busitema University are organizing an online tournament for her players. The Busia based University is one of those that greatly support chess in Uganda and has sent teams to various chess competitions in the past. This event kicked off on Tuesday, the 6th of July, 2021 and will end on the 24th of July, 2021. It is a prized event with two sections and it will be played on the Lichess platform. The men’s section has 16 players and these were divided into four groups.

Stay tuned for more updates.

July 10, 2021 1 comment

Africa Report Country Reports

2018 CIV Rapid & Blitz Invitational: After The Games

by Ogunsiku Babatunde August 9, 2018

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

As the players and officials arrived Cote D’Ivoire, they felt this was going to be another tournament that would come and go, another tournament they would just play for the prizes and leave without much enthusiasm, another tournament in a 5* Hotel for them to tell how they swam, how they ate Ivorian’s delicacies in a buffet setting every morning, afternoon and night.

Little did they know that Cote D’Ivoire had other plans for them. Little did they know that they would form bonds that would take virtually a lifetime to break. Little did they know that they would not eat dinner at the same place twice in a row. Little did they understand the captivating plans Dr Essoh Essis and his ever faithful Privat & Charles had in store for them.

At the beach in Cote D’Ivoire

But as they slowly and enjoyably found out, so also, we bring to your viewing through Africa Chess Media. This is the eating, the drama, the gaping view, the art gallery, the cultural dance, the gala night and last but not least, the awesome Minichess presentation by the Ivorian kids.

The 24^th day of July was the arrival day, and everyone arrived on the day except for GM Mohamed Amine Haddouche, who had to come all the way from Saudi Arabia, where he currently teaches the game on a contractual agreement, and he arrived early game day at 4:30am.

Selfie by IM Adu Oladapo During Lunch

Lunch was had at a local restaurant, where the players got to taste a bit of the growing up of Dr Essoh Essis and where he ate lunch during his early working days, as well as getting a taste of the Ivorian ginger drink. While the very first dinner was a form of introduction dinner, which had everyone introduce themselves in a knight of the round table setting. The players were welcomed by president Essoh Essis and were assured that they would have an exciting time in the business district of Cote D’Ivoire, called Abidjan.

The Marvel at The Piranha for dinner

Wednesday, the 25^th of July, was the first day of hostilities, as the pleasantries ended for most, when they had a torrid first day and refused to join for dinner. Breakfast and lunch were had at the 5* Hotel Tiama, whose daily buffets were always on point and dinner was to be at another location in the Abidjan district.

IMG_20180725_223757

Players and Officials having dinner at Restaurant “Débarcadère”

After the games, we left the hotel to enjoy dinner at Restaurant “Débarcadère” (meaning landing stage), located in the municipality of Treichville, at the edge of the lagoon duck, which develops the lagoon transport economic capital. They specialize in grilled meat and seafood, with which the players were not disappointed. It is also good to note that the débarcadère Restaurant sits only a few meters from the National “Palais De La Culture”, a major theater and performance hall in Abidjan.

On Thursday, the 26^th of July, the players woke up to a quiet morning, but fired up for the afternoon games, which was fiercely contested.

With one of Cote D’Ivoire’s Legendary Artistic Painter (Between Alina L’Ami and Myself)

Everyone wanted a piece of the action!

On our way to having dinner, it was a special evening, as there was an artwork/painting exhibition taking place and the players/officials were wowed with paintings that was up, and in the joy mood that everyone was in, there was singing together with the locals, pictures with legendary Ivorian painters, and the players had lots of fun. Dinner was then served at Restaurant “331”, located in the common (upper class) of COCODY Center. We had some Ivorian specialties, with freshly grilled fish a constant in the whole equation.

Minichess Team and kids with some of the players and officials

Friday the 27^th day of July kick-started with the Minichess Ivorian kids display, which had about 20 kids dancing and producing a scintillating drama presentation for the players and officials, who were seated and blown away by the presentations on display.

Minichess Kids Display

Minichess Kids displaying the King, Queen and the value of a pawn

After this, the players had some rest and continued to play their final three (3) rapid rounds of the tournament, where GM Slim Belkhodja got his first win of the tournament. Later that night, a few of the players chose to enjoy the cool breeze of the night on our way to dinner, as they chose to sit in the open booth of the Vice President’s truck, and they certainly did enjoy the ride (which was obviously cautious), as we headed to Restaurant “L’AUBERGE”, in the Deux-Plateaux neighborhood of the Northern part of COCODY community, who served both African and European specialties.

Players taking places in the truck before the ride. Photo Courtesy: IA Stephane Escafre

After dinner, President Essoh Essis treated virtually every country present to a song in the Piano-Bar style “jamming” session, singing a popular song for each player and official in attendance at the dinner and some of the players and officials joining in the fun.

As we drew close to the end of the tournament, Saturday, the 28^th of July ushered in fast paced blitz, where GM Kenny Solomon won games he probably would have lost and bullied his way to second place on the table, just behind the ever resolute GM Amin Bassem, and IM Andrew Kayonde proved doubters of his blitz prowess wrong, as he held his own to put himself in contention at the end of the day.

On this night, we had a Family-style dinner at the residence of FIDEC Vice President Lorng Charles Mathurin, to reinforce the bond of friendship among players, officials and organizers, without which chess would not succeed at any front. And Lord…. can his wife cook for Africa! She blessed us with sumptuous meals that could only be afforded at top chef restaurants in Paris (if you think I am lying, go visit Cote D’Ivoire and have dinner in his house).

Gala Night

On the final day of the tournament, Sunday, the 29^th of July, the tournament kicked off earlier than usual, in order for the tournament to finish early and we can prepare for the night never to be forgotten. GM Amin Bassem lost his first game and GM Slim Belkhodja pipped both IM Arthur Ssegwanyi and IM Adu Oladapo to 8^th place (after having started virtually all the days of the tournament at the bottom).

The Trophy: The Designed Head of Queen Nefertiti

But the story of the day was not just about the trophy, which was a brilliantly sculpted head of Queen Nefertiti, but the gala night that was to follow, which the players have never seen on the continent.

The gala night had the introduction of the players, the introduction of the officials, the introduction of special guest and then headed to playing the National Anthem of every player represented at the event. After this, there was drum performance, which ushered in the dancers, and these guys are so good, that after their performance, GM Kenny Solomon had to ask how he could join them (pun intended).

The Performing Dancers

The Drummers Performing

And after the dance had ended, there was an opening for anyone who would like to sing a song, to which Dr Essoh Essis kicked off, Mr Lekan Adeyemi joined in, and then the players and a few others joined too.

The Jolly Good Performance

Then came the moment of presenting the trophy to the champion, which had the Cote D’Ivoire Chess Federation president give his speech and where GM Dr Amin Bassem gave his speech, mentioning the fact that this is the best tournament he had participated in on the continent of Africa.

On the departure day for most, the 30^th day of July served as a day for the beach, where those that were still in Abidjan relax and a new camera guy was found in GM Kenny Solomon, who gave the brilliant Alina L’Ami a rest and took over the camera, even if it was a few minutes, it was restful for Alina (smiles).

GM Kenny Solomon The New Pro-Photographer: Picture by IA Stephane Escafre

GM Kenny Solomon’s Shot! L-R: IM arthur Ssegwanyi, WGM Alina L’Ami, Ogunsiku Babatunde, IM Andrew Kayonde, IA Stephane Escafre. BL-BR: IM Adu Oladapo, IM David Silva

Later that Monday evening, everyone said their goodbyes and hoped to see ourselves at the Batumi Chess Olympiad in Georgia later in September.

Thank you for following our story. We had FUN!

August 9, 2018 2 comments

Chess News

2018 CIV Rapid and Blitz Invitational: Blitz Day II – Final Day

by Ogunsiku Babatunde August 4, 2018

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

The final day of the CIV Rapid and Blitz Invitational saw some interesting turn of events as IM David Silva produced a brilliant performance on the final day to climb ahead of IM Mokliss El Adnani into 4^th place (gaining about 100 blitz rating points in the process). He finished just behind the GM trio of Kenny Solomon, Mohamed Amine Haddouche, and of course the champion of the tournament, Bassem Amin, who finished at the top of the table, taking 3^rd to 1st place respectively.

GM Slim Belkhodja also recovered well after the disappointment of the rapid event and he surprised many in the blitz as he was able to leapfrog both IM Adu Oladapo and IM Arthur Ssegwanyi to finally end in 8^th place. Most would not have seen this coming after he ended well off the pace at the end of the Rapid tournament. He showed good grit however and a rejuvenated performance during the blitz event.

The final days play are unfolded as follows:

Round 10:

The tenth round started with a hard-fought draw between the top two seeds, while Arthur bounced back from the day 4 mishaps that befell him and recorded a nice win over the brilliant young Fy Rakotomaharo of Madagascar.

GM Kenny Solomon vs IM Andrew Kayonde | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

Both IM Adu and GM Belkhodja lost their opening games of the day, as IM Kayonde also dealt a big blow on GM Kenny Solomon.

Round 11:

Having started the day in a fierce battle for second place, GM Kenny was dealt a second consecutive blow by IM David Silva in this round. IM Andrew Kayonde played another very nice game and found a cool finish to an instructive game in the Grunfeld defense. The game had a nice and forceful end showing the power of the two powerful bishops against his opponent’s bishop and knight.

GM Kenny Solomon Sad after his loss | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

GM Haddouche was held to a second draw of the day against IM Mokliss El Adnani as GM Slim Belkhodja got on the board on day 2 with victory against IM Adu Oladapo. GM Bassem picked up yet another victory and found himself on the brink of being crowned champion of the strongest rapid and blitz event on the continent.

Round 12:

GM Kenny found himself in yet another battle in this round and he was again on the ropes before finally securing a draw against the IM Fy Rakotomaharo. IM David Silva continued his second day dominance and defeated GM Slim Belkhodja which took his tally to 3/3 for the day.

GM Slim Belkhodja on his way to victory | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

The rise of the 6-time Zambian National Champion was halted by GM Amin Bassem in this round, while GM Haddouche and IM Mokliss also came out victorious after the round. With his win against Andrew, Bassem mathematically secured the victory as he was now 7 points ahead with only 6 rounds remaining.

Round 13:

GM Kenny had had a tough start to the day and after starting with 0.5/3 he decided that desperate times called for desperate measures. He hurried up to his room and changed his shirt, determined to do something to reverse his fortunes.

GM Kenny Solomon thinking to himself: something has to change! “The Shirt maybe?! Yes!” | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

It turned out to be an inspired decision as he became the first player in the entire event to defeat the African Champion in this round. He showed tenacity and doggedness to convert the well-earned point in what would prove to be one of the key matches of the final days play.

This is also the round where almost everyone with the white pieces found a way to win their games. Only GM Slim was able to steal a draw from GM Mohamed Haddouche, as he moved a full point ahead of IM Adu Oladapo, who was having a tough final day.

The playing hall | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

IM Fy put a stop to IM Silva’s run of wins, while Andrew picked up yet another win over Moroccan IM Mokliss. Mokliss and Andrew were both fighting for the minor places at this point in the tournament and the balance seemed to be tilting in the Zambian’s favor after this win. IM Arthur Ssegwanyi secured an important win to keep him just ahead of GM Slim at the lower portion of the table.

Round 14:

IM Adu secured his third consecutive win over Zambia’s champion as he crushed Andrew in an impressive game. GM Belkhodja also pulled off and interesting win over IM Arthur Ssegwanyi to close the gap to the Ugandan to only half a point. GM Haddouche dealt IM David Silva only his second loss of the day.

This strengthened his position in second place further as GM Kenny Solomon could only draw and watch his chase for second place slowly dwindle away. GM Bassem picked himself up from the loss against Kenny and defeated IM Fy.

Round 18:

Fast forwarding to the final round of the tournament and GM Amin Bassem had long closed out the tournament as the undoubted winner. He scored a total of 29 points out of the possible 36 even though he lost one other late game to IM El Adnani of Morocco.

GM Amin Bassem with his Nefertiti Trophy | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

Following in a distant second place was the Algerian GM Mohamed Amine Haddouche who will actually be getting married today Saturday, 4^th of August, 2018! Haddouche played very well on the final day and scored 7.5/9 on the day to end the tournament with 24 points. He won his final five (5!) games in a row to secure what was eventually a very comfortable second place finish.

GM Mohamed Amine Haddouche | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

The stout South African GM Kenny Solomon ended third after fighting tooth and nail to come out clear third. He had a topsy-turvy finish to the tournament but his fighting spirit and a key final round win over IM Arthur saw him take the final podium position.

The young blitz phenomenon from Angola, IM David Silva, scored a whopping 6 points on the final day, and his strong finish saw him take overall second place in the blitz section. He earned over 100 blitz ELO points from this portion of the tournament and $2,000 for his 4^th place finish.

IM David Silva | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

The day 1 leader, IM Mokliss El Adnani, ended the tournament in fifth place, as he had a tougher time in the blitz portion. His accumulation of 8.5 points from the 18 games played was just enough to keep him ahead of IM Andrew Kayonde who ended 6^th. Mokliss lost a key game against David in the penultimate round which effectively sealed his half point denial of fourth place.

Final Round of the tournament with the arbiters IA Stephane and IA Adeyemi attending to IM Mokliss | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

In the bottom half, IM Adu finished in 10^th place after a difficult second leg of the blitz section saw him lose 7 of the final 9 rounds. This rooted him to the bottom of the table. GM Slim Belkhodja leapfrogged both IM Adu Oladapo and IM Arthur Ssegwanyi to finish 8^th on the log. His fight in the blitz proves why he was the third GM in Africa and he mentioned that he is better with the longer time controls these days as blitz is very much a young man’s sport.

Players, Administrators, Arbiters and Sponsors Representative at The 2018 CIV Rapid & Blitz Invitational | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

At the end of the event, a trophy featuring the head of the great queen Nefertiti of Egypt was handed over to GM Amin Bassem. Each of the players held the trophy to understand the weight of what they had just missed.

Final Standings

The tournament was then closed with a gala dinner which will be fully reported on in our final article on the tournament. During his speech at the gala dinner, GM Bassem declared that the CIV Rapid and Blitz Invitational was by far the best tournament he has ever participated in on the African Continent. This is indeed high praise from a seasoned player of his caliber who has played in numerous continental events in a career that has already spanned more than two decades.

The level of organization and strength of play at the 2018 CIV Rapid and Blitz Invitational has set a new standard for Africa and the event can arguably be considered the strongest ever to have taken place on the African continent.

We at Africa Chess Media hope that this will be the first of many to come, as this would ensure the evolution of the sport to the great heights that we all dream of.

Gens Una Sumus Africa!

August 4, 2018 0 comments

Chess News

2018 CIV Rapid and Blitz Invitational: Blitz Day I

by Ogunsiku Babatunde July 29, 2018

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

The strength of a player is best evidenced by the number of events he shows brilliance and earns victory in. And so is the way at the CIV Rapid and Blitz Invitational.

Day 4 allowed the Players to showcase their blitz strength is, as they finished the rapid event and could focus on the blitz segment. The result was a rejuvenated set of players with the most notable reversal being the re-incarnation of GM Slim Belkhodja. Slim showed the skills that earned him the GM title over a decade ago and recorded an impressive total of five and a half points from the nine on offer. IM Adu also claimed some very interesting victories to finish the day with a positive score after garnering a total of five points on the day.

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The headline story of the day however was the overwhelming performance of GM Bassem Amin who simply kept blowing away everyone in his path away. Bassem ended the day with a haul of eight points and now leads the pack with what will surely prove to be an insurmountable advantage of seven(!) points.

Blitz Round 1:

Suffering from a troubling tummy, IM Adu had to brush through the first round of the blitz event and his game ended in less than two minutes. The Nigerian still had a few seconds over four minutes on the clock when he lost to the Angolan IM David Silva.

IM David Silva | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

GM Slim Belkhodja had finally managed to stem the tide by winning his last rapid encounter at the end of day 3. He started day 4 with an impressive victory over the day one tournament leader, IM El Adnani Mokliss from Morocco, and began a renaissance of some sort in an attempt to work his way up the ladder.

GM Amin Bassem handled a distraught GM Mohamed Haddouche and ensured that he got the better of the Algerian in a game that was fully going for the Egyptian until his last capture of the knight on f1. This provided lee-way for a possible draw in time pressure but GM Haddouche did not see it and instead removed the bishop that allowed checkmate in one move.

GM Mohamed Haddouche vs GM Amin Bassem | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi, who had mentioned before the blitz battle that he was the slowest of the lot, came out victorious in the first round against the youngest player of the tournament, IM Fy Rakotomaharo. A missed check tactic forced a material loss as the time pressure came in at the right time for the Ugandan.

GM Kenny Solomon showed speed and technical positional understanding to ensure victory over the Zambian Chess Lord, IM Andrew Kayonde.

Round 2:

With no player taking prisoners, the second round of the blitz tournament went in almost the exact opposite of the first round. Round 1 had seen three wins with the black pieces and two with the white, while round 2 had three wins with the white pieces and two with the black.

IM Fy Rakotomaharo | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

IM Fy Rakotomaharo made up for his earlier loss by defeating IM Andrew Kayonde, as GM Kenny Solomon stood proudly over his win against IM David Silva. GM Amin Bassem got the better of IM Arthur Ssegwanyi, and GM Haddouche was victorious over IM Mokliss. IM Adu Oladapo also got one for the IMs, as he was able to defeat GM Slim Belkhodja in an interesting encounter.

Round 3:

This round produced a second loss in a row for GM Slim Belkhodja who lost to IM David Silva, even as IM Adu Oladapo continued his resurgence against GM Haddouche. Adu therefore picked up his second win on the bounce at the tournament. IM El Adnani also got his first blitz victory as he defeated IM Arthur Ssegwanyi in a French opening transposition, which eventually gave black an endgame with an extra knight.

IM Andrew Kayonde wondering why he made that move | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

GM Amin Bassem proved too strong for IM Andrew Kayonde and GM Kenny Solomon proved the same against IM Fy Rakotomaharo as both continued their impressive start to the blitz portion of the tournament.

Round 4:

The first draw of the entire blitz tournament came in this round when IM David Silva and IM Fy Rakotomaharo settled for the threefold repetition. This was forced by IM David seeing that if he stopped, he would face mate on the next move.

IM Adu Oladapo | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

With another draw on the cards, a slip of a piece placement forced IM Arthur Ssegwanyi to endure a painful defeat against IM Adu Oladapo. While delivering a series of checks that would doubtless have resulted in a draw he inadvertently put the queen on the wrong square in a mistake reminiscent of the Anand error against Grishuck at the Leuven GCT Tournament. Adu did not miss his chance however and immediately delivered his own checking sequence which ended in mate.

IM Andrew Kayonde finally got his first blitz victory against IM El Adnani Mokliss in an interesting battle that had the Moroccan’s pieces controlling unimportant squares and files, while Kayonde’s where in the right places doing their jobs brilliantly.

IM Andrew Kayonde thinking about how sweet blitz victory was | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

The battle for the title of best blitzer was on in this round as GM Kenny Solomon took on GM Amin Bassem with both having full points in the blitz event at the start of the game. It was always going to be a cracker and did not disappoint.

GM Amin Bassem came out on top though and showed why he is unquestionably the top dog as far as Africa is concerned at the moment. GM Slim Belkhodja also picked up another important victory against GM Mohamed Haddouche to keep pace with IM Adu of Nigeria.

By Round 9:

Fast forward to round nine and GM Bassem had racked up seven and a half points out of a total of eight games. His final round game with GM Slim Belkhodja ended in only his second draw and he ended the first half of the blitz tournament with a whooping eight points out of the possible nine.

He was followed by GM Kenny Solomon, who was able to rack up five and a half points before the last round of the day, which he duly won to keep his hopes of second place alive. He ended with six and a half points to bring himself level with GM Haddouche entering in second place at the end of the day.

Top Two Players at the end of Blitz Day 1! (GM Amin Bassem and GM Kenny Solomon) | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

A tough day was had by IM Arthur Ssegwanyi who was only able to muster a meager one and a half points as a result of the troubled tummy.

Day two of the blitz event will also be the last day of the tournament and will see the trophy given to the champion of the event. The majority of the field are currently playing for second place or fighting not to finish last, with all hoping to display the fighting chess required to ensure that they are invited back to other initiatives like this in the future.

Attached below are the interviews for the top performing players after each day of the tournament:

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Games start early on day 5 so tune in to Chess24 for the action from 1PM GMT.

Do not forget to leave your comments after the read.

July 29, 2018 1 comment

Chess News

CIV Invitational Rapid and Blitz: Rapid Day III

by Ogunsiku Babatunde July 28, 2018

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

In a tournament that has seemingly shown the weakness of some and the strength of others, the third day of the CIV Invitational Rapid and Blitz tournament saw the best of Grandmaster Dr Amin Bassem and why he is the best in Africa. The day also produced first wins for both Nigeria’s International Master Adu Oladapo and Tunisia’s Grandmaster Slim Belkhodja (who had gone through the tournament with quite good positions, but has been unable to convert). The third day also saw a contender for the game of the tournament, with brilliant sacs and very solid displays, which would all be highlighted as you go into the article.

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Overall, the final day of the Rapid section did not disappoint, as the first two days had set a high standard that was further improved on in terms of the quality of the games on display. We report on a third day that had three times as many decisive results as draws.

Round Seven (7):

Not going out for dinner with the team had become the norm for GM Slim Belkhodja, who was still searching for his first victory as round 7 got under way. Unfortunately, he found that the wall of IM Fy Rakotomaharo was too strong to break and it was his own wall that was eventually broken down. He could not withstand the prowess of the young Madagascan genius and eventually lost another heartbreaking game.

IM Fy Rakotomaharo | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

In a battle of ideas and kingside attacks, IM Adu Oladapo went all out for the win against the Zambian number one (who had had a great day 2). The attack was so intense that IM Andrew Kayonde had to find only moves to survive, and once he missed one, the match was gone. The defenders of the kingside were not enough to withstand the incoming Adu train and eventually he succumbed to the Nigerian (who earlier had to admit that he never knew IM Andrew Kayonde was this strong). This gave IM Adu his first victory at the tournament.

Joint tournament leaders GM Mohamed Amine Haddouche and IM El Adnani Mokliss played to a drawn position early and a threefold repetition sealed their draw.

GM Mohamed Haddouche | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

Meanwhile, in a game that was topsy-turvy, GM Amin Bassem showed grit and strength to displace IM Arthur Ssegwanyi in calm fashion to take sole lead after the seventh round of the tournament. He thus edged one point ahead of the other Northerners for the first time in the event.

GM Solomon Kenny had to dig deep to win against IM David Silva. He eventually managed to flag David in a seemingly lost position, which ensured that he kept within striking distance of the leaders at the top of the standings.

Round Eight (8):

Contrasting postures | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

In this round, there was not a single draw, as every game ended with white as the winner except for the game of the luckless GM Slim Belkhodja, who fell to the brilliance of IM David Silva (who was recovering from his earlier loss).

Very interesting games were played in this round which included a brilliant double-cross bishop sacrifice by IM Fy Rakotomaharo of Madagascar against the Nigerian IM Adu Oladapo.

This round also saw IM El Adnani Mokliss, who had been leading the tournament for most of the first two days, losing to Zambia’s IM Andrew Kayonde. Andrew showed why he is called the “AK47”, with a brilliant finish to a well-crafted endgame. This condemned IM Mokliss to fifth on the log, going into the final round of the Rapid stage.

IM El Adnani Mokliss getting in the zone | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi got himself into early trouble by giving away an unsound bishop sacrifice in an attempt to open the kingside that had more than enough defenders. GM Haddouche quietly picked up the bishop and ensured the exchange of the troubling pieces. This allowed his knights to do the dirty work for the rook to clean up the rest.

It was the battle of the Grandmasters that ended last, with Grandmaster Kenny Solomon put on the back foot with his choice of opening line. When he was eventually able to get something going (the knight for rook exchange from GM Bassem), his time was so low that he had to play based on instinct. Grandmaster Amin was still taking his time however and was able to deal serious blows on which eventually yielded the victory for the African Champion. This kept him in the lead with GM Haddouche still on his tail (one point behind), going into the final round.

GM Amin Bassem | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

Round Nine (9):

The final round for the rapid event was more important to GM Slim Belkhodja than any of the other players, considering the fact that if he lost (which he was not willing to entertain), it would probably be the first time a Grandmaster would participate in a tournament of this nature, and be the only player to end with zero points. He was therefore full of zeal for the victory which he finally earned against IM Adu Oladapo in grinding fashion. Even though he remains at the bottom of the log, it was very important for him to get the win, which will hopefully spark a comeback in the blitz segment.

IM Adu Oladapo | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

IM Andrew Kayonde fell to the brutal power of the clock in a winning position as IM Arthur made sure he pushed to the limit until Kayonde broke. Meanwhile, IM David Silva was still ruing his missed opportunities against GM Kenny Solomon earlier in the day, and he found the going against the African Champion to be too much for him. He crashed to the strength of the top dog of the tournament, who took no prisoners on the day.

IM Andrew Kayonde | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

GM Kenny Solomon was able to capitalize on GM Mohamed Haddouche’s low time to steal a draw in a losing endgame, but where a player had to play accurately.

In the final game of the day, IM Fy Rakotomaharo and IM El Adnani Mokliss played to an opposite colored bishop endgame, where they both chose not push too much and risk losing the game.

It was an interesting finish to the rapid portion of the tournament as GM Amin Bassem stood tall above all. He still needs to win a few games in the blitz however to ensure he takes home the first prize of $5,000.

GM Bassem Amin – The current Africa Chess Champion and Africa’s number one chess player | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

GM Mohamed Haddouche will be on hand to give him stiff opposition while IM Fy Rakotomaharo and IM El Adnani Mokliss will also be trying to force their way into the top position. At the same time, the battle to not end the tournament at the bottom wil also be ongoing as a few wins or losses could change things at this side of the table.

Thank you for reading…. More to come soon about the side happenings of tournament and the CIV Minichess presentation.

Early Interview:

The 10 participants at the 2018 CIV Rapid & Blitz Invitational were interviewed by WGM Alina L’ Ami prior to the start of the tournament. These interviews provide a fascinating glimpse into the minds of the top players on the continent.

GM Bassem Amin:

GM Kenny Solomon:

GM Amine Haddouche:

GM Slim Belkhodja:

IM Andrew Kayonde:

IM Fy Rakotomaharo:

IM David Silva:

IM Mokhliss El Adnani:

IM Oladapu Adu:

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi:

July 28, 2018 0 comments

Chess News

The 2018 CIV Rapid and Blitz Invitational Tournament: Day I

by Ogunsiku Babatunde July 26, 2018

written by Ogunsiku Babatunde

The 24^th of July saw ten players from the African continent converge at Hotel Tiama in Ivory Coast, for what has been billed as one of the biggest tournaments in Africa. These players had all agreed to participate at the first request, with several leaving what they were doing to accept the invitation to participate and show support for this initiative and vision. The tournament honors the top titled players on the continent and gives both top players and upcoming players something to aspire to, in their quest for relevance on the continent and hopefully on the global scene.

Hotel Tiama – Abidjan

Africa Chess Media has partnered with Avantiline Design Limited to ensure that we bring daily reports on the tournament to Africans. The tournament is run by the Ivory Coast Chess Federation (FIDEC) in partnership with Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa, Kasparov Chess Foundation Francophone and Vivendi. FIDEC has also partnered with TIAMA Hotel (a 5 star rated hotel) to ensure that the participants and organizers are housed at an awesome venue throughout the tournament.

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The ten player field consists of:

GM Bassem Amin – The current Africa Chess Champion and Africa’s number one chess player | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
GM Slim Belkhodja – The 3rd ever Grandmaster from the African continent | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
GM Mohammed Amine Haddouche – The top rated Grandmaster based in Algeria | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
GM Kenny Solomon – The first and only South African Grandmaster | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
IM Andrew Kayonde – The 6 time Zambia National Chess Champion | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
IM Fy Rakotomaharo – The young and brilliant kid from Madagascar | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi – The highest rated International Master from Uganda | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
IM David Silva – The young man who dazzled at the Africa Youth Chess Championship and won it 3 times in a row | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
IM Mokliss El Adnani– The highest rated Moroccan International Master | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami
IM Adu Oladapo – The highest rated West African International Master | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

These 10 top players have been brought together to show the world that Africa indeed has top class players, who only need more exposure as both GM Amin and GM Haddouche have shown in recent years, picking up trophies in different parts of the world, where they have played.

The 25^th of July kick-started the hostilities, but before the battle begun, there was a photo-shoot and video interview by the delectable WGM Alina L’Ami, who is the official photographer and reporter for the event. Most of the players tipped GM Amin as the overwhelming favorite for the tournament but this does not mean they would not be fighting from the outset.

Players’ Overview | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

The CIV Rapid and Blitz Tournament follows the Grand Chess Tour format where a win counts for two points, a draw counts for one point and a loss counts for zero points in the rapid event and one point for a win, half point for a draw and zero point for a loss, in the blitz event. These points accumulate through the nine rounds of rapid chess played over three days, and eighteen games of blitz which are played as a double round robin over the final two days.

As the tournament kicked off with the rapid time control, GM Amin, GM Haddouche, young IM Rakotomaharo and IM Kayonde all picked up important victories in the first round. IM El Adnani stole the draw from IM Adu who came into the tournament with the plan of winning it (but didn’t they all?).

Dr. Essoh Essis, ACC Presidential Candidate and current President of the Cote d’Ivoire Chess Federation makes the customary first move. | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

The second round had really interesting results, as GM Slim Belkhodja fell for the second time to IM El Adnani in a quick twenty-eight (28) move game. IM Adu missed a queen trap in a game where the pressure had been on from the opening, and he eventually succumbed to IM Ssegwanyi. Fy played some brilliant chess to deny GM Solomon Kenny the full point, and David Silva showed attacking prowess and determination to pick up the point against IM Kayonde.

The game of the second round was undoubtedly the battle of the two Amin(es), as Bassem took on Haddouche in a battle which went all the way to a tense end-game. While Bassem felt he had taken the game, Haddouche defended resolutely while playing on increment for over 30 moves to finally pull off the draw with a knight sacrifice which was just in time to secure the draw.

The Thinking GM Haddouche | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

Going into the third round, GM Slim Belkhodja would have been feeling the heat at the bottom of the table, but was unable to do anything about the situation, as GM Haddouche piled the pain on him with a crushing win. This took Haddouche into the lead after GM Amin Bassem had to battle back from a seemingly losing position to force a three‑fold repetition against IM Andrew Kayonde.

The battle of the youngsters left IM David Silva aghast as he believed he would come out on top, but Fy had other plans and pulled out a devastating victory which effectively killed dinner for the Angolan wonder kid. IM Adu Oladapo came into the final round with his round 2 loss seemingly still on his mind. He pushed too hard for the win against GM Kenny Solomon and eventually lost his second straight game to the South African Grandmaster (who would not be participating at the forthcoming Batumi Chess Olympiad in Georgia).

IM Fy Rakotomaharo (L) against IM David Silva | Photo WGM Alina L’Ami

The final game to end in this round, saw IM El Adnani Mokliss continue his excellent start as he recorded another clinical win over Uganda’s IM Arthur Ssegwanyi. Arthur fought hard but was unable to curtail the incoming train which smashed through and left him near the back of the pack as he enters the second day’s play.

The fourth round will start today at 3pm GMT, 4pm West African Time and 5pm CAT. And all those who would like to follow the games can do so via Chess24 and the Followchess website or mobile apps. Everyone can also follow the live commentary by Ben Simon and GM Robert Hungaski via the Saint Louis Chess Club YouTube channel

While the Africa Chess Media YouTube channel will also be launched within the day to allow for videos from the tournament venue.

We are indeed glad for the opportunity to cover this great vision of a tournament, and we hope to cover more as the year goes by.

Expect the report from day two tomorrow.

July 26, 2018 1 comment

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