Egypt dominates the first day of play at the African Games Print
Sunday, 25 August 2019 00:24
s african games day 1

The Egyptian team got away with five victories in their first five matches at the African Games Chess Championship, conceding only 4 draws in the total 20 games they played today, with no losses.

With a line-up that includes two world-class Grandmasters like Bassem Amin and Ahmed Adly, and the sister WGMs Shrook and Shahenda Wafa, Egypt is the top-seeded team, with a gap of 150 rating points over the second, Morocco. Today, they justified their favourites' status, beating Ethiopia (4-0), Angola (3½-½), Algeria (3½-½), Morocco (3½-½) and Tunisia (3½-½). Having defeated their two main competitors, Morocco and Algeria, the Egyptian team seems to have the triumph in their own hands, and only a collapse in the second day of play could make them miss the gold medal.

Among the relative surprises during the first day of competition, it is worth mentioning the good result of Zimbawe (currently third with three victories, one draw and one loss), and the relatively poor role played by the local team, Morocco. Probably the hosts were affected by the extra pressure and they performed below what was expected from them.

FIDE Vice President Adeyemi Olalekan made the ceremonial first move in the first board of the match Egypt - Ethiopia, escorted by Lewis Ncube (African Chess Confederation President), Sheikh Saoud Al Moala (President of the Arab Chess Federation), Victor Bologan (FIDE Executive Director), Mohamed Al Mudahka (FIDE International Director), and FIDE President's Advisor Berik Balgabaev. Tournament Director Mustapha Amazaal (Morocco) made the opening speech, welcoming all the participants and thanking FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich for his continuous support, stressing the fact that the event wouldn't have been possible without the financial support of the International Chess Federation.


Standings after 5 rounds:

Rank Team Points (board points)
1 EGYPT  10 18
ALGERIA 13½ 
ZIMBAWE 13 
TUNISIA 11½
BOTSWANA 12½ 
ANGOLA 12 
NIGERIA 11½ 
MALAWI 11½ 
MOROCCO  10½ 
10  ETHIOPIA 9½ 
11  CAMEROON  9½ 
12  ZAMBIA  10 
13  SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
14  MALI
15  NAMIBIA 
16  MAURITIUS  7½ 
17  CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 5½ 
18  KENYA 9½ 
19  ERITREA
20  CAPE VERDE

m African Games day 1 01m African Games day 1 02m African Games day 1 03m African Games day 1 04m African Games day 1 05m African Games day 1 06
 
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