Olawale Oyeleye Reports
Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Zimbabwe, and Angola won in the opening round of the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, African chess teams experienced a mix of triumphs and disappointments.
Egypt’s Dominance and Strong Performances from Other Teams
Egypt emerged as a dominant force in the opening round, decisively defeating Ghana 3.5-0.5. The lone draw was secured by IM Wageih Kareim of Egypt against IM Anquandah Francis of Ghana. South Africa also showed strength, besting Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.5-0.5. The half-point for Saint Vincent was earned by Nigerian-born FM Enemchukwu Chinedu, who drew with FM Barrish Daniel. Algeria delivered a flawless performance, overcoming Gabon with a 4-0 victory. Zimbabwe secured a solid win against the US Virgin Islands, finishing 3-1, while Angola matched Algeria’s perfect score with a 4-0 triumph over the British Virgin Islands.
Challenges for Other African Teams
Morocco faced a tough opponent in India and suffered a 4-0 defeat. Madagascar struggled against Germany, losing 3.5-0.5; however, IM Rakotomaharo Fy managed to draw with GM Kollars Dmitrij on board 1. Sudan, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Botswana, Malawi, Cote d’Ivoire, and Kenya also encountered setbacks, with most teams losing 4-0. Notably, Kenya managed a closer scoreline, drawing 3.5-0.5 thanks to Oluka Robert’s draw against GM Peng Li Min.
Israel narrowly edged out Ethiopia, while Brazil and Namibia faced clear-cut defeats by 4-0 margins. Iceland narrowly defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-1, with Xavier Mompel Ferruz securing a win against GM Kjartansson Gudmundur. Mauritania struggled against Belgium, losing 0.5-3.5, with Abdellahi Khaled drawing against GM Hovhannisyan Mher. Other teams, including Eritrea, Chad, Togo, Mauritius, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, faced various losses, reflecting the challenges they encountered in their respective matches.
Looking Ahead
As the tournament progresses, attention will shift to how these teams adjust and prepare for their upcoming matches.
