CHESS

THE African Continental Championship in Kampala has been won by Abdelrahman Hesham.

31 players took part and the leading places were: 1 IM Abdelrahman Hesham (Egypt) 2400 7,0; 2 FM Andrew Kayonde (Zambia) 2404 6,5; 3 GM Ahmed Adly (Egypt) 2607; 4 IM Adlane Arab (Algeria) 2482 6,5; 5 GM Essam El Gindy (Egypt) 2431 6,5; 6 GM Samy Shoker (Egypt) 2489 6,0; 7 IM Daniel Cawdery (RSA) 2412 6,0; 8 IM Moheb Ameir (Egypt) 2438 5,5; 9 IM Arthur Ssegwanyi, (Uganda) 2366 5,0; 10 16 FM Patrick Kawuma (Uganda) 2247 5,0; 11 FM Harold Wanyama (Uganda) 2269 5,0; 12 CM Lyndon Bouah (RSA) 2124 5,0.

The Uganda chess federation president, Vianney Luggya, in wrapping up the championship made a plea that the “ACC considers a request to the FIDE titles Commission to reconsider award of more titles to players who score above 50 percent in the Continental event. Considering that the event is the biggest on the continent and attracts the cream of Africa, a 50 percent score or higher (66 percent) ought to be worthy of a title, just like the case is with the zonals. The level of play in an event of this nature is so high, which renders it worthy of more automatic title awards”.

Dr Lyndon Bouah, one of two South Africans in Kampala noted, “The chess clocks we are using are brand new clocks. We are using 40 moves in ninety minutes, but the clock only shows you have the extra 30 minutes when your time has run down the 90 minutes even if you are well past the 40 move mark. Daniel Cawdery and I prefer the clocks to add the extra 30 immediately you reach move 40. Some food for thought for arbiters and organisers.

“When will South Africa be staging this event? Perhaps we should aim for 2018, as the government has declared 2018 as the year for chess. 2018 is also the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. Let us honour him and stage the biggest event in South Africa.”