Amin wins 5th African Championship!

GM Bassem Amin, 2018 African Champion

GM Bassem Amin, 2018 African Champion

Egyptians GM Bassem Amin and WGM Shahenda Wafa are 2018 African Champions. The event was held May 12-22 and organized by African Chess Confederation (ACC) and the Chess Federation of Zambia (CZF). It is Amin’s 5th continental championship (2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017, 2018) and the second consecutive for Wafa whose sister won the title with Amin in in 2013.

Livingstone, Zambia was the host of the event. The host city is about a seven-hour drive from the capital city of Lusaka and named after David Livingstone, a 19th century British explorer. It is the home of one of the world’s wonders, Victoria Falls. Certainly, players would have enjoyed this world wonder as the falls are flowing in peak season in May. This shot was from last summer.

Nevertheless, they were there to play chess. Unfortunately, only 30 players show up in the Open section with Egyptian players sending several of their Olympiad players. Grandmasters Amin, Ahmed Adly, Essam El-Gindy and Hesham Abdelrahman (2016 champion) were all vying for a spot at the World Cup. A strong cadre of 11 International Masters were also was also in the field including five from host Zambia. There were no West African participants this year. This is something that must be addressed in coming years.

In the Women’s championship 20 players from 10 federations, practically all holding titles. There were many returning participants including defending champion WGM Shahenda Wafa. Zambian national Lorita Mwango would be defending home turf and the Algerians wanted to add to their medal collection.

In the end, the Egyptian players was able to assert their dominance. Amin blitzed the field with 8½/9 drawing only with Adly who finished clear 2nd with 7/9. Coming in 3rd position was El Gindy with 6 points, edging Kayonde for the bronze. In the women’s tournament, Shahenda Wafa scored a sparkling 8/9 followed by Mwango and Latreche, both on 6½/9 points.

WGM Shahenda Wafa, 2018 African Women's Champion

WGM Shahenda Wafa, 2018 African Women’s Champion

FINAL STANDINGS
Open Section

2018 African Championship (Standings)

Standings: https://chess-results.com/tnr352629.aspx?lan=20&art=0&flag=30

Women’s Section

2018 African Championship (Standings)

Standings: https://chess-results.com/tnr352630.aspx?lan=20&art=0&flag=30

10 Comments

  1. Round #4

    (Open)

    “Grandmaster Draw” on top board… contenders close gap

    (Women)

    Mezioud upset by Caxita… Shahenda widens lead beating rival Latreche

    Esperança Caxita

    Angola’s Esperança Caxita
    Photo by Angola Press

  2. Round #6

    (Open)

    Mwali holds Adly…
    Amin now in sole 1st after uncorking a beautiful queen sacrifice!

    (Women)

    Caxita wins again, pulls to within 1/2-point of lead

  3. Round #7

    (Open)

    Amin getting closer to 5th title… Adly on his heels with two rounds left

    (Women)

    10/10 decisive games! Mwango and Letreche still in the hunt.

    WCM Mwilola Phylis Namasiku (ZAM) vs. WFM Gorreti Angolikin (UGA)

    WCM Phylis Namasiku Mwilola (ZAM) vs. WFM Angolikin Gorreti (UGA), 0-1
    Photo by Mulenga Cliff Mulenga

  4. Round #8

    (Open)

    Amin topples Paiva in penultimate round… needs draw to win crown

    Donaldo Paiva (MOZ) vs. Bassem Amin (EGY)

    Donaldo Paiva (MOZ) vs. Bassem Amin (EGY), 0-1

    (Women)

    Letreche beats Mwango… Wafa clinches title with win!

    Donaldo Paiva (MOZ) vs. Bassem Amin (EGY)

    Amina Mezioud (ALG) vs. Lorita Mwango (ZAM), 1-0
    Photos by Mulenga Cliff Mulenga


  5. 2018 African Chess Championships
    12-22 May 2018
    Livingstone, Zambia

    Zambia Zambia Zambia

    OPEN (Classical)

    GOLD – GM Bassem Amin (Egypt)
    Egypt

    SILVER – Ahmed Adly (Egypt)
    Egypt

    BRONZE – GM Essam El-Gindy (Algeria)
    Egypt

    Final Standings (chess-results.com)

    WOMEN (Classical)

    GOLD – WGM Shahenda Wafa (Egypt)
    Egypt

    SILVER – WFM Lorita Mwango (Algeria)
    Zambia

    BRONZE – WIM Sabrina Letreche (Algeria)
    Algeria

    Final Standings (chess-results.com)

    * * *

    OPEN (Rapid)

    GOLD – GM Ahmed Adly (Egypt)
    Egypt

    SILVER – GM Bassem Amin (Egypt)
    Egypt

    BRONZE – GM Hesham Abdelrahman (Egypt)
    Egypt

    Final Standings (chess-results.com)

    * * *

    OPEN (Blitz)

    GOLD – GM Bassem Amin (Egypt)
    Egypt

    SILVER – IM Abdelrahman Hesham (Egypt)
    Egypt

    BRONZE – IM Henry Steel (South Africa)
    South Africa

    Final Standings (chess-results.com)

    WOMEN (Blitz)

    GOLD – WIM Wafa Shahenda (Egypt)
    Egypt

    SILVER – WIM Amina Sherif (Egypt)
    Egypt

    BRONZE – WIM Esperaca Caxita (Angola)
    Angola

    Final Standings (chess-results.com)

    L-R: GM Hesham Abdelrahman, GM Bassem Amin,
    WGM Shahenda Wafa, WIM Amina Sherif
    Photo by Mulenga Cliff Mulenga

    * * *

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