FM Brahami Lamine and Lina Nassr, both of Algeria, are the proud winners of the 2021 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
The event held in the Liberian capital of Monrovia saw FM Brahami Lamine score 8 points out of 9 rounds to grab his maiden African title.
On the other hand, WIM Lina Nassr won the Ladies section with a perfect 9 points out of 9 rounds to grab her second title. She won her first Africa Junior title in the 2017 edition held in Lome, Togo.
The Open Section had a total of 18 players from 8 federations. Liberia, as the host nation, had eight players.
Other federations included Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone & Uganda.
Kenya, unfortunately, did not send any participants for this prestigious event.
The race for the top spot in the 9th and final round was between FM Brahami Lamine and Callistus Denyefa Eyetonghan of Nigeria. Both had 7 points, and each had a chance of claiming the 2021 Africa Junior Chess Championship title, which comes with a conditional IM title.
Brahami Lamine faced David Lery Debblay of Liberia, which he won and grabbed the gold medal. On the other hand, Callistus Denyefa Eyetonghan lost to one of the top Egyptian junior players, David George, but with 7 points, still managed to grab the silver medal.
Mohamed Abderrahim Taleb of Mauritania obtained 7 points but had a lower tie-break to take home a bronze medal.
Benjamin Netanyahu Ajiri of Uganda played well to end up with a respectable 5 points.
FM Brahmi Lamine will now receive his IM title by virtue of winning the 2021 Africa Junior Chess Championship. In addition he will obtain a GM norm and personal rights to participate at the 2022 World Junior Chess Championships.
The country boasts of eight International Masters include Lamine and three Grandmasters. The top player in Algeria is GM Bilel Bellahcene, who has a rating of 2508.
It is interesting to note that FM Brahmi Lamine is Algeria’s National Champion and the Junior National Champion!
Ten-year-old Egyptian star David George Samir put up an excellent performance by obtaining six points to end up in 4th place and thus missing a podium finish. The poor lad struggled to record his game as his right hand was in plaster due to an earlier injury.
His game against event winner FM Brahmi Lamine was a fascinating battle.
WIM Lina Nassr and her sister WCM Manel Nassr were the representatives from Algeria, while WFM Naledi Marape was from Botswana. Liberia had five players led by their junior Karyah Abigail.
WIM Lina Nassr won the event with 9 points while her younger sister WCM Manel Nassr obtained 8 points to grab the silver medal. WFM Nalendi Marape grabbed the bronze medal with seven points.
WIM Lina Nassr will now receive a GM norm and personal rights to participate at the 2022 World Junior Chess Championships.
Abigail Karyah was the top Liberian player in the event with 6 points.
A total of only eight players took part in this section.
Abigail Karyah v WIM Lina Nassr
The players spend their free day at the Libassa Ecolounge, Monrovia.
Nesla Adnane of Algeria was the Chief Arbiter and Mario Kpan of Ivory Coast was one of the arbiters of the event.
In addition both provided extensive photos of the event which appear in this article.
2021 Africa Junior Chess Championship on chess-results.com.
Download the Invitational letter for the 2021 AJCC.
Thomas Karayah interview on Radio ECOWAS. Click on the media link below.
GM Adham & WFM Pires crowned 2019Africa Junior Champions.
Standings & Results of Ladies section 2019 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
Standings & Results of Open section 2019 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
Selected games from round 1 & 2 of the 2019 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
1st report on the 2019 African Junior Chess Championship by Kenya Chess Masala.
Day 1 report on the 2019 Africa Junior by Africa Chess Media.
IM Fawzy Adham wins 2018 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
IM David Silva of Angola wins 2017 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
Further reflection on the 2015 African Junior Chess Championship.
IM Nassr Ali of Algeria wins 2016 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
IM David Silva of Angola wins 2015 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
