Young Malawi boy ‘Alipo Namangale’ of nine years became a chess superstar and secured third position in the 2024 African Schools Chess Championship (ASICC). He won a bronze medal at the tournament which was held in Ghana.
Bright and young chess minds, between Dec 14 and 20, 2024 from across the African countries, under the age of 17, converged at Hunters Royal Hotel in Accra, Ghana to participate in the ASICC continental showpiece.
Reportedly, the under 9 category was represented by Namangale, whereas Dominic Chitsime participated in the under 13 category and scooped position 5. Twins from Zimbabwe Li Zhi and Li Xing won first and second position in under 9. While Ghanian player Davie Acheampong emerged as the champion in the under 13.
As per the sources, the 2024 National Schools Chess League (NSCL) finals took place at Blantyre Secondary School (BSS) where 14 finalists battled in the Open and Girls categories.
The list of final players included Limbe, Namasika and Chibavi Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs), St. Anthony, Chaminade, Nkhotakota, Malibu Academy, Loyola Jesuit, Karonga Girls, Atsikana Paulendo, Bwaila, Masongola and Chakhwaza Secondary Schools.
Notably, Alipo became the first nine-year-old Malawian to win a medal at a continental event. But he missed the conditional Candidate Master title with half point.
Moreover, the chess championship will provide funds to both Alipo and Dominic. The players will play in the World Schools Individuals Chess Championship in Serbia in March 2025.
African Individual Championships 2024 began on March 13, 2024 in Accra, Ghana. The city recently hosted the chess competition of the 13th African Games. The open and the women’s championships are 9-round Swiss events with a classical time control.
The championship included top African Players who were Grandmasters Bassem Amin from Egypt and Bilel Bellahcene from Algeria; International Masters Mariano Ortega Amarelle from Cape Verde, Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo from Madagascar, David Silva from Angola, Chitumbo Mwali from Zambia, Women’s Grandmaster Shahenda Wafa from Egypt and Women’s International Masters Lina Nassr from Algeria and Jesse Nikki February from South Africa have gathered for this prestigious event.
President of FIDE – Arkady Dvorkovich participated in the opening ceremony and made the ceremonial first move in the women’s competition. He thanked the organisers and greeted all the participants and touched on the social aspect of chess competitions in Africa.
Dvorkovich also announced that in just few days, the Chess Torch lit in India which would arrive in Accra and invited everyone to participate in the festivities. The Chess Torch Relay is a part of centennial celebration of FIDE that will pass through several continents to finish in Budapest which is the host city of the 45th Chess Olympiad.