South Africa’s WIM Jesse February emerged as the champion of the women’s section at the 2024 African Individual Chess Championship on Wednesday 20 March 2024.
She becomes the first South African man or woman to win the prestigious championship twice.
And also becomes the first player from Zone 4.5 Southern Africa to win the championship twice
Jesse Nikki February’s incredible, strategic, and deadly moves saw her amassing 7.5 points out of a possible nine to emerge as the winner of the 2024 African Individual Chess Championship.
The South African chess star outsmarted tournament top seed WGM Shahenda Wafa and defending champion WIM Nassr Lina in rounds three and four of the competition. Her only defeat in the tournament was against 12-year-old Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen of Nigeria in round seven. Before she concluded the competition with a draw against Haile Lidet.
Her success sees her becoming the first South African man or woman to win the African Individual Chess Championship twice. WGM Melissa Greeff was the first South African to win the title in 2009 before GM Kenneth Solomon claimed his championship title in 2014. She also becomes the first player from FIDE Zone 4.5 covering Southern Africa to win the championship title twice