GM Bilel Bellahcene (Algeria) and WGM Shahenda Wafa (Egypt) are newly crowned African Chess Champions. Bellahcene successfully defended his title becoming the third multiple winner of the event, while Wafa claimed her fourth continental crown, adding to her previous victories of 2017, 2018 and 2022.
The most important African championship in the Open and Women’s sections took place at the Cresta Hotel in Jwaneng, Botswana. Both competitions were 9-round Swiss tournaments, bringing together over 100 of the continent’s best players.
The Open event developed into a close race between the defending champion and top seed GM Bassem Amin (Egypt; pictured below), who were jointly leading the field after Round 5 with 4.5/5 each. Bellahcene emerged victorious in their next-round clash and pulled ahead. Unfazed, Amin won three consecutive games and caught up with the leader by the finish. Both players totaled 7.5/9 and tied for first place, with Bellahcene (pictured above) clinching gold on tiebreaks (based on the average rating of opponents).
Sixteen-seed FM Banele Mhango (Republic of South Africa) produced a minor sensation earning bronze after edging out Dante M Beukes (Namibia) and Mariano Ortega Amarelle (Cape Verde) on tiebreaks
The women’s competition turned into a family affair as the Wafa sisters – Shahenda and Shrook – both netted 7.5/9 to tie for the top position. Shahenda (pictured below, right) led most of the event but made two draws at the finish, allowing her older sister and the defending champion to catch up. Still, it was Shahenda who captured the title on tiebreaks.
WFM Sasha Mongeli of Kenya delivered a solid performance of 6.5/9, which brought her bronze and a 31-point rating gain.
Photos: African Chess Confederation
Official website: https://africachessconfederation.com/