2022 African Chess Championship: Bassem Amin and Shahenda Wafa claim titles

Egyptian players dominated the 2022 African Individual Chess Championship winning gold in both open and women’s sections. The competition took place in Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria, from September 18-27 and brought together 93 participants from 27 African countries.

Both championships were 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich opened the 2022 African Individual championship and made the first ceremonial move in the competition.

The open event turned into an exciting race of two rating favourites and compatriots, GMs Bassem Amin (pictured below) and Ahmed Adly, who were in the lead from start to finish. Coming into the final round a half-point ahead of Amin, Aldy managed only a draw against Dante Beukes. His main competitor jumped on the opportunity and caught up with Aldy after defeating Kenny Solomon.

Photo by Madelene Belinki

Just like a year before, the two Egyptian GMs tied for first place with an excellent score of 8/9, but this time around, the tiebreaks (rating average of the opponents) favoured Bassem Amin, who won his sixth title of African champion. Another Egyptian GM, Hesham Abdelrahman, finished third.

Final standings Open:

1

GM

Amin Bassem

EGY

2663

8

2

GM

Adly Ahmed

EGY

2578

8

3

GM

Hesham Abdelrahman

EGY

2374

7

4

IM

Silva David

ANG

2315

6

5

IM

Rakotomaharo Fy Antenaina

MAD

2492

6

6

IM

Ortega Amarelle Mariano

CPV

2474

6

7

IM

Beukes Dante M

NAM

2295

6

8

FM

Adebayo Adegboyega Joel

NGR

2267

6

9

 

Eyetonghan Denyefa Callistus

NGR

2079

10

IM

Okeke Isaac Chukwudalu

NGR

2180

In the women’s section, the top-seed Shahenda Wafa (pictured below) of Egypt lived up to the expectations and took gold after netting 7/9. The champion finished a half-point ahead of Charlize Van Zyl (South African Republic) and Bridget Michael (Nigeria), who scored critical final-round victories and tied for second place on 6.5/9. The silver medal goes to Charlize by dint of the higher rating average of her opponents.

Photo by Lennart Ootes

Final standings Women:

1

WGM

Wafa Shahenda

EGY

2110

7

2

WIM

Van Zyl Charlize

RSA

1710

3

 

Michael Bridget

NGR

1800

4

WFM

Luzia Pires

ANG

1839

6

5

WCM

Ampaire Shakira

UGA

1657

6

 

Onoja Iyefu Joy

NGR

1762

7

 

Paulo Jemima

ANG

1886

8

 

Ofowino Toritsemuwa

NGR

1857

9

WFM

Oloruntola Oluwatobiloba

NGR

1918

10

WFM

Mbatha Constance

ZAM

1613

5