Egypt reigns supreme at 17th Africa Youth Chess Championship
Egypt underlined their dominance on the continental youth chess scene after emerging as overall winners of the 17th Africa Youth Chess Championship held in Entebbe, Uganda. The Egyptian youngsters finished with an impressive haul of 11 medals: six gold, four silver, and one bronze. One of the biggest stories of the championship came in the Under-8 Open section, where 39th seed Sameir Mahmoud of Egypt defied all odds to clinch gold in sensational fashion, proving that rankings matter little once the clocks start ticking. Kenya’s Kirega Rayvon and Kariuki Matthias completed the podium with silver and bronze, respectively. The host nation, Uganda had reason to celebrate in the Under-8 Girls category after 30th seed Jacinta Mbabazi delivered a memorable performance to secure one of the country’s three gold medals. Mbabazi finished tied on 8/9 points with Kenya’s Jasmine Aaliyah before edging her out on tiebreaks, while South Africa’s Khethelo Mlaba claimed bronze – the country only medal at the championship. Top seed Tawfeik Said of Egypt justified her billing in the Under-10 Girls section after producing a dominant display to win gold with 8/9 points. Uganda continued their strong showing by securing both silver and bronze medals in the category. In the Under-10 Open, Egypt’s Ezaat Ahmed captured gold with 8.5 points as Kenya once again settled for silver and bronze. Kenya’s WCM Winnie Kaburo won the gold medal in the Under-12 Girls after finishing with an outstanding 8/9 points. Egypt’s Mohamed Ahmed claimed silver while Madagascar’s Nivo Tsinjovintavo made history for her nation by securing bronze. Uganda’s Ronald Wabwire thrilled the home crowd after scoring 8/9 points to clinch gold in the Under-12 Open section. The Kenyan pair Nathaniel Manyeki and Faraja Muli completed the podium with silver and bronze respectively. Madagascar’s Aina Tsinjovintavo caused one of the tournament’s biggest sensations after winning the Under-14 Girls title with eight points ahead of experienced campaigners Mohamed Ahmed Zaka and Juliet Asaba. In the Under-14 Open category, Egypt’s Mustafa Ahmed and Angola’s Nsimba Wela both finished tied on eight points, but superior tiebreaks handed Mustafa the gold medal. Zambia’s Twalumba Sianyinda completed the podium with bronze. Kenya’s WCM Elizabeth Cassidy Maina continued her remarkable rise after adding the Under-16 Girls crown to the Under-14 title she won in Zimbabwe last year. Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Alvin Muhirwa gave Uganda another reason to celebrate after emerging as champion in the Under-16 Open section with 7.5 points. Egypt’s Zaki Mohamed maintained her fine form to secure gold in the Under-18 Girls section ahead of former champion Omprakash Sana, while Kenya’s Bella Nashipae claimed bronze. The North Africans capped off a memorable championship by dominating the Under-18 Open section, where Ahmed Kandil and Eyad Elhusseiny secured gold and silver, respectively, with Kennedy Shane taking bronze. Medal standings This year’s edition of the prestigious continental youth championship attracted more than 900 players from across Africa, with Kenya fielding the largest delegation at the tournament. Text and photos: African Chess Confederation
Vincent Keymer wins Super Chess Classic Romania in breakthrough Grand Chess Tour debut
GM Vincent Keymer of Germany captured the title at the Super Chess Classic Romania, securing first place after defeating Jorden van Foreest in the only decisive game of the ninth and final round to avoid a playoff. The victory marks Keymer’s first tournament win in a classical event on the 2026 Grand Chess Tour (GCT) during his debut appearance as a full tour player. The 2026 Super Chess Classic Romania was a 10-player round robin, featuring nine full Tour players and one wildcard. Headlining the 2026 lineup were Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So, Vincent Keymer, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Javokhir Sindarov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Jorden Van Foreest, joined by Romanian wildcard Bogdan-Daniel Deac. For this victory, Keymer earned a total of $131,250, which included his share of the $125,000 Classical Wins Bonus, distributed among players based on total wins across the tournament, with the prize pool divided by the number of games won to determine a per-win value and each player’s final bonus allocation. “Vincent’s performance in Bucharest was a tremendous example of the next generation of elite players rising to the occasion on one of chess’s biggest stages,” said Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of the GCT. “It’s exciting to see new talent break through and claim a major title against such a world-class field, and we believe fans are witnessing the future of elite chess unfold in real time.” Fabiano Caruana finished in second place after remaining in contention for the title until the final round, while World Championship Challenger GM Javokhir Sindarov secured third place with another impressive performance against a world-class field. The event featured intense competition throughout the nine rounds, including the withdrawal of Alireza Firouzja, who stepped out of the tournament due to a persistent ankle injury. “Congratulations to Vincent Keymer for an extraordinary performance and a well-deserved title,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Super Foundation. “We also extend our appreciation to all participants for the exceptional quality of play, sportsmanship, and dedication they demonstrated throughout the Super Chess Classic Romania, making it a true celebration of elite chess at its highest level.” 2026 Super Chess Classic Romania Final Standings 1 GM Keymer, Vincent 2759 6 2 GM Caruana, Fabiano 2788 5½ 3 GM Sindarov, Javokhir 2776 5 4 GM So, Wesley 2754 5 5 GM Van Foreest, Jorden 2735 4½ 6 GM Deac, Bogdan-Daniel 2650 4½ 7 GM Giri, Anish 2767 4½ 8 GM Praggnanandhaa, R 2733 4½ 9 GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 2717 4½ 10 GM Firouzja, Alireza 2759 1 “I still haven’t fully taken in what happened – it’s been an amazing event for me,” said Keymer. “I’m very happy with my performance, especially despite a setback in the middle. This is the biggest tournament victory of my career so far. I prepared less and focused more on having enough mental energy to be successful. I want to thank the organizers of the Grand Chess Tour, my coach Peter, my father, and all the fans who supported and cheered for me.” The GCT now heads to Zagreb for Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia, taking place from June 29 to July 6, 2026. As the second rapid and blitz event of the tour, the tournament will feature a total prize fund of $200,000 and include six full-tour participants alongside four wildcard players: Gukesh Dommaraju of India, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, Bogdan-Daniel Deac of Romania, and Ivan Saric of Croatia. Text: Grand Chess Tour Photos: Grand Chess Tour / Lennart Ootes