Over 100 African youth participated in the 2023 African Online World School Qualifying championship from the 25th to the 26th of February 2023.
The qualifiers were hosted online via Tornelo an online chess platform. Participants competed in different categories ranging from U-7, U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 and U-17 with the number one player in all age categories earning free board and lodging at the FIDE World School Chess Championship in Rhodes Greece.
Botswana top performs grabbing nine podium spots in the qualifiers
It all started with Uba Mahilo and Nalamalpu Saishanvi who finished first and second respectively in the U-7 girls’ section. They were joined by Philip Motswasele who finished second in the open section.
In what looked like a podium dominance Maya Otimile and WCM Manikonda Naga Sai Hasitha won the gold and bronze medals in the U-13 girls’ section. WCM Laone Phoebe Moshoboro and Thuto Mpene also won medals in the U-15 girls and open section.
Following the footsteps of her elder sister WCM Arona Moshoboro and WFM Naledi Murape finished in the top three of the U-17 girls’ section.
Players from FIDE-affiliated federations and FIDE Academies can however participate in the championships through registrations from their respective federations. The World Schools Chess Championship is scheduled from the 13th to the 23rd of April 2023 in Rhodes, Greece.
TOP 3 WINNERS
U-7 GIRLS
- Uba Mahilo 4/7 Botswana
- Nalamalpu Saishanvi 1/7 Botswana
U-7 OPEN
- Magnus Sosu 4/9 Ghana
- Philip Motswasele 3.5/9 Botswana
U-9 GIRLS
- Ridham Rajan 6/7 Ghana
- Lucie Chimeta 5/7 Malawi
- Adeera Srivastava 5/7 South Africa
U-9 OPEN
- Melquesideque Paulo 8/9 Angola
- Nivo Hasina Tsinjoviniavo 7/9 Madagascar
- Jedidiah Nana Osei Acheampong 7/9 Ghana
U-11 GIRLS
- Alina Mahasambatra Tsinjoviniavo 6/9 Madagascar
- Salima Adzinova 6/9 Morocco
- Adeola Moshoboro 5/9 Botswana
U-11 OPEN
- Nibhish Gandasarakula 7.5/9 South Africa
- Acheampong Dave Quansah Chief 7/9 Ghana
- Gweshe Jordan 6.5/9 Zimbabwe
U-13 GIRLS
- Maya Otimile 7.5/9 Botswana
- Bernice Wambui 7/9 Kenya
- WCM Manikoda Naga Sai Hasitha 5.5/9 Botswana
U-13 OPEN
- Raphael Felix 9/9 South Africa
- Mawutor Richardson 6.5/9 Ghana
- Ny Andolalaina Fitia Noah Rabarison 6/9 Madagascar
U-15 GIRLS
- Mahi R.Shah 6/9 Tanzania
- WCM Laone Phoebe Moshoboro 5.5/9 Botswana
- Nokutenda Michelle Madzikwa 5/9 Zimbabwe
U-15 OPEN
- Abinavah Sathish 8/9 South Africa
- Amith Vikram Sai Baddapati 6.5/9 Zimbabwe
- Thuto Mpene 6/9 Botswana
U-17 GIRLS
- Jemima Paulo 7.5/9 Angola
- WFM Naledi Marape 7.5/9 Botswana
- WCM Moshoboro Arona 7/9 Botswana
U-17 OPEN
- Rocha Miguel Julio 7.5/9 Angola
- Shrey Girish Kamath 6.5/9 Malawi
- Jaime Sonhy 6/9 Angola