Africa
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2023 African Individual Championships
The 2023 African Individual Chess Championships (AICC) are currently taking place in Egypt at Hor Moheb Hotel in the historic town of Giza. There are 17 African federations along with five South African players playing under the African Chess Confederation banner. Seven Grandmasters lead the field of 71 players in…
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2023 Kenya Chess Open is historic!
The Kenya Chess Open was one of the strongest local tournaments attracting seven Grandmasters. Timur Gareyev (USA) won the tournament with a stunning 8.5/9 in a tournament that attracted 445 players but went viral for a different reason. More on that later. GM Timur Gareyev vs. Zambian IM Gillian Bwalya…
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Chess Player banned for impersonating a woman
At the Kenya Open, something unique happened when a man was caught impersonating a woman in the women’s section. Registered as unrated Millicent Awuor, he was wearing a hijab (head & shoulder covering) typical of a Muslim woman with a niqaab (face covering). Of course, we have heard of the…
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South Africa’s West Coast Chess Union
On an African chess group on WhatsApp, Andrew Lewaks shared this three-year-old video from a youth initiative involving the West Coast Chess Union in South Africa. “Helping Kings and Queens Make the Right Moves” is a very touching tribute showing the benefits of chess as an alternative to other national…
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“Chess in Slums” treks to Kenya, Uganda!
Tunde Onakoya of “Chess in Slums” visiting Kenya with representatives from partner organization, “The Gift of Chess.” Tunde Onakoya has spent the last five years refining his delivery of “Chess in Slums” to some of the most poverty-stricken areas of Nigeria. Now His initiative has attracted many admirers and supporters…
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2023 Zone 4.3 in Equatorial Guinea
Sergio Periera of Sao Tome & Principe hoists the championship trophyafter winning Zone 4.3 Championship. Equatorial Guinea was the host to the FIDE Zone 4.3 Individual Championship which took place during the week of 18th-27th of January 2023 at the Bisili Hotel in Malabo. The tournament attracted 15 contestants from six…
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Kenya’s Bernice Wambui gives “Gift of Chess”
“Chess is not just a game. Facing the board means making decisions and dealing with obstacles. We learn life skills from the game.” Bernice Wambui is helping bring chess to some of the most impoverished parts of Kenya. What is more impressive is her charisma and leadership. Reminiscent of Uganda’s…
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Mehul Gohil (Kenyan Champ) wins another car!
Mehul Gohil won the Kenyan Chess Champion and thus, drove away the grand prize of a Mazda Demio car! It is his second car in three years. In 2019, he won the title after Ben Nguku was unable to catch him. This year he had to win an Armageddon battle…
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Ortega is Cape Verde’s 2022 Chess Champion
Cape Verde held its national championship December 7th-11th in the capital of Praia with their top player IM Manuel Ortega defending his title. Federação Cabo-Verdiana de Xadrez (FCX) is a relatively new FIDE member having joined the community of chess nations in 2016. Ortega has been their top player for…
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2022 Liberian Chess Championship
The Liberian Chess Federation (LCF) hosted its national championship with Bobby Ballah winning in dominating fashion with 9.5/11. The champion eclipsed the field by a full point and two points over the 2019 champion, Thomas Saah. Ballah was in good form in the tournament and came in as the 5th…
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