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Kenya unveils team for Africa chess championship in Cairo

Kenya unveils team for Africa chess championship in Cairo
A hand hovers over a chessboard, making a move during a game. For illustration purpose. PHOTO/pexels

Chess Kenya has officially unveiled the trio set to represent the country at the 2025 Africa Individual Chess Championship (AICC), which will take place from May 12 to May 22 in Cairo, Egypt.

Leading the Kenyan contingent is 2024 National Open Champion Robert Macligeyo. He will be joined by Women Candidate Master (WCM) Sasha Mongeli, the reigning National Ladies Champion, and Kimani Kimingi, a fast-rising talent making his debut on the continental stage.

Stronger comeback

Macligeyo and Mongeli return to the African championship with high hopes of improving on their performances from last year. At the 2024 AICC, held in Ghana, Macligeyo scored an impressive 5.5 points and placed 13th overall in the Open Section. Mongeli, competing in the Women’s Section, finished 16th with 4.5 points.

Robert Macligeyo in action during the 2024 National Open Chess Championship held in Nairobi PHOTO/@ChessKenya/x

Both players are drawing on that experience to aim higher this time around.

“We’ve studied the games, worked on our strategies, and we’re heading to Cairo with serious intent,” said Macligeyo during the team flag-off event.

Their focus will be on breaking into the top 10 and potentially earning qualification for the prestigious FIDE World Cup 2025. The top finisher in each section earns direct qualification to the global tournament.

Title at stake

The 2025 edition of the AICC also presents a rare opportunity for African players to earn FIDE titles.

The winners of the Open and Women’s Sections will be awarded the titles of Grandmaster (GM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM), respectively, provided they have previously attained minimum ratings of 2300 (GM) and 2100 (WGM).

Sasha Mongeli in action during the 2024 National Open Chess Championship held in Nairobi PHOTO/@ChessKenya/x

This year’s competition is expected to be fierce, with several elite players expected to participate. In 2024, Egyptian Grandmaster Bassem Amin claimed his seventh African Individual title, finishing with a dominant 8.5 points out of 9 rounds. He conceded only one draw, against Zambia’s IM Mwali Chitumbo, in round five.

Amin walked away with USD 5,000 in prize money and cemented his status as Africa’s top player.

With Cairo now the stage, Kenya’s trio will be aiming to challenge the continent’s best and raise the country’s chess profile further.

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