Egypt rules at the African Games Chess Championships, taking home all the Gold medals in dominating fashion. Having already won the Gold in the Teams Championship -played during the first two days of competition- the Egyptians went on to take the top spots also in the individual rapid and blitz events, both in the open and women’s categories.
African Games – Individual Rapid Championship
Ahmed Adly and Bassem Amin swept the competition in the rapid championship, topping the standings without one single loss. Their paths crossed in the 5th round, when they were already the only two players with a perfect score, and they settled for a draw in an uneventful game. Adly would go on to win the remaining four games, getting the Gold, while Amin would concede one more draw -against the local star GM Hicham Hamdouchi- having to content himself with the Silver medal.
Harold Wanyama (UGA) and Hicham Hamdouchi (MAR) finished 2 full points behind the winner and 1½ behind the runner-up, but it was the player from Uganda the one to get away with the medal, thanks to a better tie-break.
The President of the Association of African Sports Confederations, General Ahmed Nasser, visited the tournament during the first day of play and made the opening move in the clash between Ahmed Adly and Bassem Amin.
| 1 | Adly, Ahmed | 8½/9 | 2630 |
| 2 | Amin, Bassem | 8/9 | 2617 |
| 3 | Wanyama, Harold | 6½/9 | 2237 |
| 4 | Hamdouchi, Hicham | 6½/9 | 2575 |
| 5 | Kayonde, Andrew | 6/9 | 2312 |
| 6 | Silva, David | 6/9 | 2284 |
| 7 | Adu, Oladapo | 6/9 | 2293 |
| 8 | Makoto, Rodwell | 6/9 | 2405 |
| 9 | Chumfwa, Stanley | 6/9 | 2311 |
| 10 | Bellahcene,Bilel | 5½/9 | 2473 |
| (… 48 players in total) |
The Women’s Championship was much harder fought.
The top-seeded Shrook Wafa led the competition with firm hand, but a defeat in
the last and decisive round allowed the Zambian Lorita Mwango to reach her in
the standings. However, the Egyptian WGM had in her favour a much better
tie-break, and that was enough to secure the Gold medal. Sabrina Latreche, from
Algeria, got the Bronze.
| 1 | Wafa, Shrook | 7/9 | 2033 |
| 2 | Mwango , Lorita | 7/9 | 1844 |
| 3 | Latreche, Sabrina | 6½/9 | 1915 |
| 4 | Ofowino, Toritsemuwa | 6½/9 | 1827 |
| 5 | Gabatshwarwe Refilwe | 6½/9 | |
| 6 | Nassr, Lina | 6½/9 | 1820 |
| 7 | Wafa, Shahenda | 6/9 | 2006 |
| 8 | Caxita, Esperanca | 6/9 | 1831 |
| 9 | Miladi, Amen | 5½/9 | 1688 |
| 10 | Pires, Luzia | 5½/9 | 1636 |
| (… 42 players in total) |
African Games – Individual Blitz Championship
The blitz championship was a one-man show, with an inspired Bassem Amind wiping
out the competition, and cruising to a perfect score, 9/9. The five-time
African Champion and only African player to ever reach 2700 added a new triumph
to his spectacular track record.
The top-seed Ahmed Adly got the silver medal with 7½, losing to the
Nigerian Oladapo Adu, and drawing against the MI Mohamed Tissir. Algerian
Grandmaster Bilel Bellahcene finished third.
| 1 | Amin, Bassem | 9/9 | 2658 |
| 2 | Adly, Ahmed | 7½/9 | 2684 |
| 3 | Bellahcene,Bilel | 6½/9 | 2502 |
| 4 | Hamdouchi, Hicham | 6/9 | 2514 |
| 5 | Wanyama, Harold | 6/9 | 2264 |
| 6 | Osunfuyi , Abimbola | 6/9 | 2212 |
| 7 | Arab, Adlane | 6/9 | 2422 |
| 8 | Aderito, Pedro | 6/9 | 2295 |
| 9 | Aithmidou, Mohamed-Mehdi | 6/9 | |
| 10 | Kayonde, Andrew | 6/9 | 2317 |
| (… 50 players in total) |
In the Women’s Championship, the Wafa sisters took the two top spots, but not
without difficulty. They both suffered a loss, but in general, the only
two WGM in the field showed their class to take Gold and Silver. Lina
Nassr, from Algeria, scored 7 points that gave her the Bronze.
| 1 | Wafa, Shrook | 8/9 | 2044 |
| 2 | Wafa, Shahenda | 7½/9 | 2003 |
| 3 | Nassr, Lina | 7/9 | 1791 |
| 4 | Pires, Luzia | 6½/9 | 1636 |
| 5 | Shaba, Linda | 6½/9 | |
| 6 | Latreche, Sabrina | 6/9 | 1983 |
| 7 | Caxita, Esperanca | 6/9 | 1825 |
| 8 | Ogbiyoyo, Perpetual Eloho | 6/9 | |
| 9 | Francis, Onkemetse | 6/9 | 1755 |
| 10 | Ofowino, Toritsemuwa | 5½/9 | 1848 |
| (… 39 players in total) |
Egypt’s delegation in the African Games has achieved so far a total of 116 medals, including 37 gold, 50 silver and 29 bronze medals. South Africa comes second with 56 medals (25 gold, 17 silver and 14 bronze). The host country Morocco is third, with 52 medals (13 gold, 15 silver and 24 bronze).
Source: FIDE.com
Official website: https://jar2019.ma
Great news, thank you