African Championships 2024: Bassem Amin and Jesse February crowned champions

Gold medals for Egypt and South Africa

Title favorite Egypt continued his dominance in the final round, beating MI Andrew Kayonde (Zambia) with Black pieces. The champion scored an impressive 8½/9, conceding his opponents just half a point.

Second seed GM Bilel Bellahcene (pictured below, left) beat IM Mariano Ortega Amarelle from Cape Verde and finished second with 7/9.

IM Chitumbo Mwali (Zambia; pictured below, right) claimed a crucial victory over MI Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo (Madagascar) and took bronze, with 6½/9 points. Zambia’s sixth seed had an excellent tournament and scored 39 points.

GM Bilel Bellahcene and MI Chitumbo Mwali.

Final standings

…42 players

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In the women’s section, WIM Jesse Nikki February (RSA) needed only a draw in the final round against Ethiopia’s Lidet Abate Haile to take the title, but it was no easy task. The South African had a losing position at one point, but eventually saved the draw to take the gold with an impressive score of 7½/9.

The top two seeds, WGM Shahenda Wafa (pictured below, left) of Egypt and WIM Lina Nassr of Algeria (both beaten by the champion with the Black pieces!), tied for second place with 6½/9, the latter taking silver thanks to a better tie-break.

WGM Shahenda Wafa and WIM Lina Nassr.

Final standings

…29 players

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