9th All-Africa Games (Algiers, Algeria)

 

The 9th All-Africa Games has started on today with approximately 9,000 athletes from throughout the African continent. The sports festival runs from today July 11th through July 23rd. A report out of Algiers by Aliou Goloko stated,

A total of 3,800 referees will oversee athletes competing in 27 sports, up from the 22 which featured during the 2005 Games in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Algerian government has spent more than U.S. $100 million to renovate the eight villages housing athletes, and 1,000 Algerian and 450 foreign journalists have been accredited to cover the Games.

Chess is one of the competing sports and both a team and blitz tournament will be held. There have been some issues with teams being unable to fund their expenses for the trip, visa problems and top African players nixing the tournament, but we can expect a very exciting and competitive team tournament. Security will be tight given the recent spate of bombings.

The African Individual Championship takes place next month August 31st through September 11th in Windhoek, Namibia.

32 Comments

  1. While we are waiting for the news of the chess action at the All Africa Games, I would like to make the following observation:

    The Chess at the All Africa Games is one of the rare occasions when most of the top chess players in Africa have the opportunity of competing together (as a complete group of chess playing countries that is) and this should not be so. Apart this event, there has to be some other high level tournaments taking place in between the All Africa Games and the Olympiad to give African chess players the needed norms while sharpening their chess skills for future events.

    I know Daaim and I have talked about this already, but does anyone have any ideas or comments on how to plan for just that kind of tournament? More importantly how to attract sponsors for such a big tournament in the future if one were to be organized. I think we have far too many talented players in Africa to just sit by and watch them disappear into the sunset because of lack of opportunities to grow chess wise.

  2. Issac,

    I have put in a request for all African chess players to blog here. I cannot find the main website. If someone knows the link please post it here. ❗

    Any players at the event should feel free to blog and tell us what is going on. We want to know the details of the venue, the conditions, the country atmosphere and side topics!

  3. I have searched around and found the website for the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). Apparently it is a composite of all the National Olympic committees and is designed to coordinate policies for the continent. The organization has a document showing the schedule of events. Chess, a non-Olympic sport, started their competition on July 12th and will end on July 21st. There is a rest day on the 16th. The chess events take place in Palais de la culture Mouldi Zakaria. There is no word on where the results are being reported.

    Main Site: https://www.anoca.info/evenements-sportifs/alger2007.php
    Schedule of Events: https://www.acnoa.info/docs/Programme_Alger.pdf

  4. I have been reading news reports that not all is well in Algeria with the All-Africa Games. There are complaints about the accreditation process, the accommodations, the food and the transportation system for athletes. Jackie Ngubeni sent this word from an International Arbiter in Algiers.

    “Players are in a village-like living quaters, No telephones and email facilities.”

    In another technological short-coming, there is no official website for the games. In the 21st century, there is no excuse for not having had a website constructed well in advance. If there is a website, it does not come up in any of the search engines, nor have I seen it referred to by any reports I’ve read.

    In addition to all of these inconveniences, there has been tightened security because of the bombing just prior to the games. Linda Nangwale of Zambia had told me a month ago that she considered pulling out because of safety issues in Algeria. No word on whether she is in Algeria.

    Below are some of the problems being faced by delegations. Let us hope these problems are being sorted out.

    • James Bakama, “Algiers Far From Ready for Games,” New Vision (Kampala, Uganda) 11 July 2007.
    • Nigerian Athletes Stranded, Battle Food Crisis,” This Day (Lagos, Nigeria) 13 July 2007.
    • Isa Omok, “Algeria tightens All-Africa Games Security after Rebel Bomb,”  Reuters (Algiers, Algeria) 13 July 2007.
    • Tony Ubani, “It’s All Africa Games of Confusion” Vanguard (Lagos, Nigeria) 14 July 2007.
  5. Does anyone one have any inside info on the current results of the chess competition in Algeirs? I would like to know how the Kenyan team is performing

  6. Mehul,

    There has been no word of an official press agency for the All-Africa Games, nor have I seen an official website. The only information we are getting are through people on site. You can check this post. The accuracy is not confirmed, but it is the only information that has come from Algeria thus far. I understand that e-mail and Internet access is hard to come by. This is a nightmare for chess players.

    https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=38

  7. As a member of the Kenyan Olympiad team to the Turin Olympiad I had the opportunity to see how Chess friendly technology has developed phenomenonly. As I finished my game friends and fellow chessplayers in Naiobi were already analysing and posting comments on how badly I had been mauled in a game that had just ended.Though this mauling happened quite oftenly I was awed and impressed at how spectators got the games fast. in its report on 10 years of FIDE the world governing body mentioned the inclusion of Chess in the All African games as an achievement, do we have fide representatives at the games in the 9th edition, and why has FIDE not made arrangements to broadcast the games in the internet yet they have the resources and such details would boost popularity and publicity which would tickle down to the players? Read Simutowe’s problems due from the 8th edition.Governments and sponsors will chip in more when the game becomes more visible.Thanks.

  8. It appears that several others have attempted to make contact, but unsuccessfully. I have written the Algeria News Agency and received no response. Lynne van Rensburg of South Africa sent me this  contact information for the Games:

    The 9th African Games (Jul, 11 – Jul, 23 2007)

    City: Algiers
    Country: ALG
    Organizer: The Organizing Committee and the Algerian Chess Federation
    Tel: (213) 21-658 538
    Email:
    fajedz@yahoo.fr
    Fax: (213) 21-658 538
    Address: 7 rue Omar Amimour, Algiers, Algeria
    Type: Standard
    System: Swiss

  9. Found the website of the COJA, the organizing committee and it provides details of the games schedule, the chess rosters and the chess results. HOWEVER, the results are woefully incomplete and most of the matches have only the board pairings listed. Please only post comments on chess affairs. 😉

    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20071018021254/https://www.coja2007.dz/portail/programme/Programme.html

  10. Dear chess Friend

    The website in Algeria on Chess is now up and running, however sadly it is still lagging somewhat!

    Well here are the Positions after the 8th round, but please, for your ease of reference and a “head to head team clashes go to http://www.chessacademy.co.za.

    Men:
    Position One: Egypt ( 26,5 points)
    Position Two: Zambia (21,5 points)
    Position Three: Nigeria (20 points)
    Position Four: South Africa (18,5)

    Analysis of positions: Please note that while Zambia is playing well partly because Nase Lungu is raking in the points, they still have to take a free day! Just as well the Nigerians.

    Women:
    Position One: Algeria (20,5 Points)
    Position Two: Nigria (18,5 Points)
    Position Three: South Africa (15 Points)

    Check out the INDIVIDUAL “Head to Head” which is in fact a “Dress rehearsal” of the Africa Qualification to be held in Namibia later in August 2007. VERY INTERESTING STATS!

    http://www.chessacademy.co.za

    Yours in assistance,

    Jackie Ngubeni
    Chessco

  11. Jackie Ngubeni of South Africa has released a document reporting the chess results through round five. There also seem to be a number of errors in the report, but it appears as if Egypt is ahead by a comfortable margin. I will rectify this information and make corrections if needed. Following are the reported positions:

    Team Standings (After 5 Rounds)

    Men:
    1. Egypt 18.5 Points
    2. RSA 15.0 Points
    3. Algeria 14.5 Points
    4. Zambia 13.0 Points
    5. Zimbabwe 9.5 Points (IM Robert Gwaze is playing!)

    Women:
    1. RSA 11.5 Points
    2. Algeria 9.5 Points
    3. Nigeria 9.0 Points
    4. Botswana 8.5 Points
    5. Egypt 6.5 Points

    Full report coming on The Chess Drum!

  12. What about game scores? I can’t believe in the 21st century we can’t get them. All Kenyans back here want to know how there countrymen are playing.

  13. I made a request for games and photos and have not received any answers from anyone. There is a South African page with one photo and that’s it. There is no other visual proof that this event is being held. It’s a public relations disaster. I hear there is not adequate Internet access in the Village.

    I read a news report that Algerians are not aware that the All-African Games are being staged in their country. Some Algerians saw Nigerians in the airport and asked if they were there for a football match.

    It is quite a travesty, but I would imagine that the Algerians are trying.

  14. Dear Chess Friends
     
    I hereby continue to partially lift the veil of secrecy or is it sheer incompetence ( you pick your choice!) on the ALL Africa Games:Chess out of Algeria.
     
    The results are 100% accurate. While sadly, NO GAMES, PHOTOS or ACCESS to this Africa monumental chess event. I dream of an Africa with Top players (GM’s, IM’s) playing in GREAT African events. I wake up to this NIGHTMARE! Well………..?
     
    Here are the results after 10 Rounds!

    Men:-
    Position 1: Egypt   (31   Points)
    Position 2: Zambia (28   Points)
    Position 3:  Nigeria (25   Points)
    Position 4:  RSA    (23,5 Points)
    Position 5: Zimbabwe (21 Points)
    Position 6: Angola (21 Points)
    Position 7: Algeria ( 19 Points)
     
    Women:-
    Position 1: Algeria     (23    Points)
    Position 2: Nigeria     (21,5 Points)
    Position 3: RSA          (20   Points)
    Position 4: Botswana (14,5 Points)
    Position 5: Egypt        (13   Points)
    Position 6: Libya        (4,5  Points)
     
    I had a detailed discussion with Musatwe Simutowe (Amon’s elder brother) who is based with my Academy in RSA and he offered this suprisingly candid opinion: ” I am not surprised by Zambia crushing South Africa 3-1 (Round 10) in the and drubbing Algeria 3,5-0,5. (Round 9) In my country chess rivalry amongst players is combative and competitive. Nase Lungu is for instance a seasoned player who you will underestimate at your own peril! Zambia is the power-house of Sub-Sahara Chess, I say to the team well done guys!”
     
    More on this candid interview by Musatwe and detailed”head to head” clashes; check https://www.chessacademy.co.za/
     
    Hope you appreciate the coverage, cheers friends.
     
    Jackie Ngubeni

  15. Musatwe Simutowe may have a case if his younger brother Amon were playing, but with a rest day ahead, it is still an open question whether the Zambian team will win a medal.

    Analysis: In the last three rounds, Zambia gets a 0-point bye, São Tome (weakest) and Egypt (strongest). Their chances are very good, but Nigeria will have a slightly easier schedule with 0-point bye, Namibia, Angola. The South Africa men stand a chance to leap into medal contention since they are only 1½ points back and play Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia, all struggling teams. They could get all 12 points here, so I’m picking Egypt, South Africa and Zambia for the medals. I would not go as far to call Zambia the powerhouse in Sub-Saharan Africa (they lost 3-1 to Nigeria as well), but she remains a country with a lot of young talent and a bright future.

    In the women’s competition, the three medallists are already decided. Algeria plays Nigeria in a big match while the South Africa-Nigeria finale will also be key. Algeria will win the gold since they will probably score full marks against Libya while the other teams battle medal contenders. I’m picking South Africa for silver and Nigeria for bronze. Botswana is 5½ points back from medal contention and again has had a disappointing performance. Only a medal would have softened the pain from their 0/36 debacle in Russia.

    I have constructed crosscharts for both the Men’s and Women’s competition.

    https://www.thechessdrum.net/newsbriefs/2007/NB_AllAfrica07.html

    I have also found some chess photos at the COJA website and have made a slide show. Hopefully more pictures are to come.

    https://www.coja2007.dz/portail/galerie/Galerie.html?iden=12
    https://www.coja2007.dz/portail/galerie/Galerie.html?iden=13

  16. Dear Chess Friends
    Zambia holds the Pharohs to confirm Musatwe’s confident assertions. It may not be a firm gripon silver as South Africa turned on the heat with Kenya(3,5-0,5). Nigeria men watched from the side-line while their Dames slowed down the Algerians with a 2,5-1,5 win. Botswana ladies were steam rolled 3,5-0,5 by South Africa.

    I concur with Daaim’s predictions of 1-2-3 of Egypt,RSA & Zambia respectively on condition that the inept South Africa take full advantage of Zambia’s dropped points of earlier rounds.
    Cheers

  17. In a world that is rapidly technologically advancing when will we
    Africans stand up to be counted???
    I lay the blame of this black-out of chess information on the doorsteps of the Algerian Chess Federation.
    Surely they must be involved in the organization of the chess events of the all Africa games holding in their own country.
    What stopped them from sending out daily reports to FIDE and to other web sites like the chessdrum???
    There is a strong need for personal initiative among chess lovers
    ( players, arbiters, federation officials, journalists,etc. ) especially on the African continent otherwise our hope of moving our chess forward will remain a mirage.

  18. For the women’s event, it is official!

    Algeria – 28½ points (GOLD)
    South Africa – 26 points (SILVER)
    Nigeria – 25½ points (BRONZE)

    Algeria got full marks versus Libya 4-0 and South Africa edged Nigeria for the 2nd time, 2½-1½ and was able to sneak past by ½-point. South Africa scored 10/12 in the last three rounds! Nigeria, having lost twice to South Africa settled for the bronze.

    For the men’s event,

    Egypt – 40 points (GOLD)
    South Africa – 34½ (SILVER)
    Zambia – 34 points (BRONZE)

    Egypt held onto their lead throughout and took the gold. South Africa’s late surge (11/12 in last three rounds) gave them the silver. South Africa’s run allowed them to overtake upstart Zambia, who received the bronze. While IM Robert Gwaze shined for Zimbabwe after a long hiatus, no one knows whether the absence of IM Amon Simutowe cost Zambia a shot at a higher medal. Nevertheless, Zambia has a cache of young talent and will make a presence in future team events.

    There is no news on the board prizes. I had done some counting and at one point, IM Odion Aikhoje (Nigeria), IM Robert Gwaze (Zimbabwe) and Stanley Chumfwa (Zambia) were leading the tally on board #1. FM Nase Lungu of Zambia was having a strong showing on board #2, but these are not official accounts. We will have to wait until tomorrow night perhaps.

    I noticed that both the Nigerian teams used ‘board-stacking’ system as well. Aikhoje played practically every board position for Nigeria from 1-4. Rosemary Amadasun, who played board #1 at the Turin Olympiad, was seen on board #4. Of course things did not work as well for Kenya, a team also employing this system.

    Drum coverage here… full report coming!

  19. Dear Chess Friends, (be the 1st to know!)
    All Africa Chess section awarded Team medals for Positions and Individual Board perfomances!
    Men’s Teams: Egypt grabbed Gold (40 Points)!, South Africa (34,5 Points) held-on to Silver by a whisker. Zambia (34 Points) clutched Bronze wondering why they dropped valuable points against meanows when they clobbered RSA and became heroes against Pharohs! Nigeria played well to come 4th.
    Board medals: Egypt 4(3xGold, 2xSilver), South Africa ( Gold & Bronze), Zambia (Silver & 2xBronze). Nigeria don’t go home empty handed but with Board six bronze.
    “Mr.100%” Olympiad Gold medalist ROBERT GWAZE made a sterling comeback by clinching Silver on Board One after El Gindy(Egy) secured GOLD!
    Ladies Teams: Algeria(28,5) bagged Gold, South Africa(RSA) were Silver girls(26) and Nigeria(25,5) settled for Bronze after loosing 2,5-1,5 to RSA. Botswana go home empty handed!

    Board medals:Algeria(Gold,2xSilver & Bronze), RSA(2xSilver & Bronze)
    Nigeria ladies collected 3xGold 7 Bronze.
    Botswana (With only WGM in Africa) salvaged pride when Lopang took Bronze for her efforts on Board 2.
    I published more details on http://www.chessacademy.co.za! Including “head to head” team & Individual clashes.
    Best wishes & Congrats to winners!!!
    Jackie Ngubeni

    😆

  20. Hello there,

    I definitely agree this is all crap. No games, no info, nothing, in the 21st century. I managed to compile temporart tournament review (see https://www.olimpbase.org/2007f/2007in.html) from what i managed to extricate from that terrible web site (coja2007.dz).

    there are still more questions than answers. There is no single game available (I believe they have been lost since this was an active chess rather than classical time control), I even don’t know whether White-Black pairing is correct altogether. In some cases (Kenya round 1,Nigeria round 2, STP round 3&6) player order was apparently broken, why? (I don’t mean board stacking, just messing up player line-up). Not to mention spelling of players’ names is worse than awful (like Qwaz=Gwaze!!??)

    By the way, since African Team Championship was abandoned in 1997 (most probably) this tournament also acts as continental championship, a 2009 World Team Championship qualifier (bravo Egypt).

    If you spot extra data (games, pics, etc) please don’t forget to post it here so that everyone could get a line.

    regards

  21. Welcome OlimpBase!

    It’s been a long time since we’ve “talked.” Thanks for the information on the Olympiad individual medals. I did a tally a few rounds back and I forgot about IM Essam El-Gindy… 8½/9 is amazing! I believe IM Robert Gwaze was competing for the gold at one point, but ended up taking the silver on board#1. Egypt reinforced their position as the premier chess power on the continent. I was surprised that Morocco did not field a team, but even with GM Hichem Hamdouchi and IM Mohammed Tisser, they would have struggled to get a medal. I was good to see Zimbabwe’s Gwaze do well after a long hiatus.

    Winning five of six board medals shows that Egypt’s domination of the field was complete and thorough. This has to be a wake-up call before the African Individuals in Namibia next month. Both GMs Ahmed Adly and Bassem Amin have bright futures! IM Amon Simutowe tells me he is preparing hard and hopes to give battle in Namibia. I’m sure GMs Hichem Hamdouchi and Slim Belkhodja will be there from France.

    I’ll let you know of any pictures or games I get. I most certainly will receive plenty once the delegations return home. African chess has risen!

  22. Thanks for your reports Jackie! They were very valuable. 😛

    I hope to have a full report soon. Hopefully some of the players and officials will blog about their experiences in Algeria. It should be good reading! Drum supporter Linda Nangwale of Zambia will certainly write her opinions. 😉

    Let us look forward to Namibia late next month. The African Individuals will be very competitive and I’m sure Charles Eichab & company will make sure that the tournament has first-rate conditions.

  23. Thank you Daaim & Jackie ( worthy African brothers )and OlimpBase (is this your real name?) for your efforts in covering the chess events of the 9th AAG .
    Congratulations to the players who won medals ( and to those who did not ! ).
    Hope we have better organisation next time.

  24. ALL AFRICA GAMES -BLITZ CHESS RESULTS

    Men:

    Position One: GM Ahmed Adley : Gold Medal (Egypt)
    Position Two: GM Amin Bassem : Silver Medal (Egypt)
    Position Three: IM Watu Kobese : Bronze Medal (South Africa)

    Women:

    Position One: WIM Mona Khaled : Gold Medal (Egypt)
    Position Two: WFM Jenine Ellappen : Silver Medal (South Africa)
    Position Three: WIM Hayed : Bronze Medal (Algeria)

    COMMENT & ANALYSIS

    The Egyptian team is proving to be too strong in the continent by securing Gold for both Men and Women in the Blitz medals section. The absence of the “super fast” players of the continent, Fouad El-Taher and Robert Gwaze in the top three is somewhat a surprise. After all IM. El Taher is known for his quick thinking prowes. He won this event in Abuja, Nigeria. IM Robert Gwaze is lightning fast within five minutes. In the INTERNET he rumbles with the best, and has earned respect from the likes of GMs Nigel Short and Teimour Radjabov.

    It is understandable that the youthful Egyptian newly crowned GMs are a class above the rest in Africa. The veteran IM Watu Kobese is not to be underestimated. He “Blitzed” El Taher in the play-off to qualify in the Africa Championships 2006. The women section was won by the teenager WIM Mona Khaled. This little girl is the shining star of the continent and it is apparent that she is destined to attain the WGM crown and she will wear it with great pride!

    The Chess Academy CONGRATULATES ALL MEDAL WINNERS! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MEDALISTS.

  25. j’ai participé au jeux !! si vous pouvez me montrer un site ou jpeu voir des photos !!jporté la pancarte du mali !!! 🙂

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