The 2026 African Individual Chess Championship concluded on June 27 at the Cresta Lodge in Jwaneng, Botswana.
Organized by the African Chess Confederation (ACC) in collaboration with FIDE and the Botswana Chess Federation, the tournament brought together top players from across the continent to compete over nine rounds under the classical Swiss System. This year’s edition featured an increased prize fund of USD 30,050, reflecting a growing focus on the development of professional chess in Africa.
The Open section developed into a thrilling two-horse race between the continent’s highest-rated player, GM Bassem Amin of Egypt, and the defending champion, GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algeria.
The two frontrunners were neck-and-neck halfway through the tournament, sharing the lead with 4.5/5 points each. A key sixth-round encounter saw Bellahcene defeat Amin to take a crucial sole lead. However, demonstrating the resilience of a seven-time continental champion, Amin bounced back with three consecutive victories to catch up by the final round.
Ultimately, both grandmasters finished at the top of the standings with an impressive 7.5/9 points. Thanks to a superior tiebreak, GM Bilel Bellahcene successfully secured the gold medal, defending his title from last year and solidifying his position among Africa’s elite.
The Women’s tournament evolved into an extraordinary display of sisterly dominance, as Egypt’s renowned Wafa sisters took control of the field.
WGM Shahenda Wafa set the pace for most of the event. A pair of draws from Shahenda in the final rounds allowed her older sister and defending champion, WGM Shrook Wafa, to bridge the gap and join her at the summit. Both sisters finished the grueling 9-round classical schedule undefeated, comfortably sharing first place with 7.5/9 points.
When the tiebreaks were calculated, WGM Shahenda Wafa claimed the official continental crown, earning her fourth individual African Championship title. Remarkably, this victory means the two sisters now hold a combined 9 African Women’s Championship titles out of the 14 editions ever played, an unprecedented legacy in continental chess history.
With a prize distribution that awarded USD 6,500 to the Open winner and USD 4,000 to the Women’s champion, the tournament concluded as an important event for the financial and professional advancement of chess on the continent.
The logistics and playing environment provided by the Cresta Lodge Jwaneng met international standards, setting a solid baseline for future African championships.
Open section final standings:
1 GM Bellahcene Bilel ALG 2493 – 7.5
2 GM Amin Bassem EGY 2628 – 7.5
3 FM Mhango Banele RSA 2268 – 6.5
4 IM Beukes Dante M NAM 2288 – 6.5
5 IM Ortega Amarelle Mariano CPV 2382 – 6.5
6 GM Solomon Kenneth Terence RSA 2277 – 6
7 IM Levitan Caleb Levi RSA 2295 – 6
8 FM Mwale Joseph MAW 2303 – 6
9 IM Belouadah Saad ALG 2320 – 6
10 IM George Samir David EGY 2380 – 5.5
11 FM Felix Raphael RSA 2293 – 5.5
12 IM Kayonde Andrew ZAM 2316 – 5.5
13 IM Silva David ANG 2278 – 5.5
14 FM Paiva Donaldo MOZ 2189 – 5.5
15 Kaoma Micheal ZAM 2157 – 5.5
16 IM Oatlhotse Providence BOT 2225 – 5.5
17 FM Mulenga Prince Daniel ZAM 2217 – 5
18 FM Mwadzura Roy ZIM 2192 – 5
19 FM Ndahangwapo Heskiel NAM 2095 – 5
20 Nyola Wasswa Mark UGA 2263 – 5
21 IM Mwali Chitumbo ZAM 2327 – 5
22 IM Aikhoje Odion NGR 2251 – 5
23 Dinham James RSA 2174 – 5
24 IM Simpson Michael RSA 2221 – 5
25 FM Alhassadi Yousef A. LBA 2130 – 5
26 FM Abdulraheem Abdulrahman Akintoye NGR 2364 – 5
27 FM Andrade Ivan MOZ 2150 – 4.5
28 Kweiri Tawfik Ezzeddin LBA 2180 – 4.5
29 FM Simiyu Jadon KEN 2142 – 4.5
30 IM Chumfwa Kelvin ZAM 2209 – 4.5
31 CM Abrantes Persson MOZ 1972 – 4.5
32 CM Notha Moakofi BOT 1959 – 4.5
33 Lyapa Chisha ZAM 1913 – 4.5
34 Okonga Hugh Misiko KEN 1955 – 4.5
35 CM Olisa Tennyson Ewomazino NGR 2283 – 4.5
36 CM Gaealafshwe Barileng BOT 1939 – 4.5
37 CM Mpene Thuto BOT 2009 – 4.5
38 Sebetlela Gaasite BOT 2067 – 4
39 CM Cambando Jose ANG 2082 – 4
40 CM Jamal Hamid Harmon Gulamo MOZ 2055 – 4
41 CM Mosutha Thuso BOT 1981 – 4
42 FM Ebosse Kingue Victor Patrick CMR 1995 – 4
43 IM Amba Oyon Marius Claude CMR 1967 – 4
44 FM Alharari Mohamed Alsori LBA 2021 – 3.5
45 Khtab Kamal SUD 1999 – 3.5
46 AFM Donkeng Hussel CMR 2056 – 3.5
47 CM Egesa Emmanuel UGA 2078 – 3.5
48 CM Manan Yoboue Hermann CIV 2080 – 3.5
49 Mothudi Mogotsi Arnold BOT 1937 – 3.5
50 Adewole Adeyinka Samuel NGR 1922 – 3.5
51 Methu Joseph Muragu KEN 1938 – 3.5
52 Yassin Mohamednour Omer SUD 1784 – 3
53 Schwarz Bernhard NAM 1828 – 3
54 CM Makem Pierre CMR 1853 – 3
55 Kaloki Hawi KEN 2108 – 2.5
56 Banlock Benjamin Didier CMR 2031 – 2.5
57 FM Calicoca Wilton Inacio MOZ 1977 – 2.5
58 Obiamiwe Paul NGR 1796 – 2.5
59 Matundu Richard MAW 1691 – 1.5
Women’s section final standings:
1 WGM Wafa Shahenda EGY 2073 – 7.5
2 WGM Wafa Shrook EGY 2197 – 7.5
3 WFM Mongeli Sasha KEN 1892 – 6.5
4 WCM Nel Hayley RSA 1861 – 6
5 WFM Boshoma Chisomo RSA 1847 – 6
6 WFM Paulo Jemima ANG 1970 – 6
7 WIM Mohamed Zaki Jana EGY 2032 – 6
8 WIM Nassr Lina ALG 2073 – 6
9 WFM Djerroud Chahrazad ALG 1906 – 5.5
10 WFM Banda Natalie Katlo BOT 1957 – 5.5
11 Tanaka Dziyanyi ZIM 1908 – 5.5
12 WCM Alaa Dema EGY 1850 – 5
13 WCM Otimile Maya BOT 1784 – 5
14 WIM Caxita Esperanca ANG 1968 – 5
15 WFM Ayemou Mazan Emmanuela Esther CIV 1847 – 5
16 WCM Sitoe Cheila Andre MOZ 1721 – 5
17 WIM Sana Omprakash Kayyar UGA 2027 – 5
18 WFM Badenhorst Chloe RSA 2021 – 5
19 WIM Vilhete Vania Fausto Da T. MOZ 1837 – 4.5
20 WFM Ndirangu Joyce Nyaruai KEN 1841 – 4.5
21 WFM Elizabeth Cassidy Maina KEN 1964 – 4.5
22 WCM Moshoboro Laone Phoebe BOT 1681 – 4.5
23 WCM Mosweu Atlang Amolemo BOT 1831 – 4.5
24 Makwena Christine ZIM 1906 – 4.5
25 WIM Michael Bridget NGR 1994 – 4.5
26 WIM Francis Onkemetse BOT 1914 – 4.5
27 WCM Ofowino Toritsemuwa NGR 1959 – 4
28 Gamal Alaa EGY 1831 – 4
29 WFM Francis Thapelo BOT 1739 – 4
30 WCM Magne Kouokam Sylviane CMR 1568 – 4
31 WFM Mbatha Constance ZAM 1824 – 4
32 WIM Laubscher Anzel RSA 1842 – 4
33 WCM Castro Neusa Aridas De MOZ 1684 – 4
34 WCM Pitso Refilwe BOT 1774 – 3.5
35 WCM Beukes Jamie-Nicole NAM 1778 – 3.5
36 WCM Benson Maud GHA 1691 – 3.5
37 Efentakis Theodora MOZ 1482 – 3.5
38 Naira Sinoia MOZ 1561 – 3
39 WCM Nepando Jolly NAM 1649 – 3
40 Wefang Lucrece CMR 1479 – 3
41 Corine Sohna CMR 1593 – 3
42 Danwe Maissiri Carole CMR 1416 – 2
43 Maguiafain Kouokam Josiane CMR 0 – 2
44 George Anny MAW 1569 – 0
