Egypt’s rising chess star ends Africa’s 18-year medal drought with gold in the Under-12 category
Egyptian chess prodigy Abdul Rahman Sameh has made history by winning gold at the 2025 FIDE World Cup in the Under-12 section, becoming the first African player in nearly two decades to capture a major title at the global event.
Sameh’s victory ends an 18-year wait for Africa, whose last major triumph came in 2007 when Egyptian Grandmaster Ahmed Adly clinched gold at the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship. With this win, Sameh now joins Adly as only the second African ever to secure a prestigious FIDE World Cup title.
“This victory is not only for Egypt, but for the entire continent,” said the African Chess Confederation President Tshepiso Lopang.
National Recognition and Ministerial Support
Following his historic performance, Abdul Rahman was officially received and honoured by Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, at a ceremony in Cairo. The Minister lauded the young champion’s outstanding achievement and praised his composure and brilliance on the international stage.
Dr. Sobhi also reaffirmed the ministry’s full commitment to nurturing talented athletes across all sporting disciplines, ensuring they receive the resources and opportunities to excel at both continental and global levels.
In his remarks, the Minister extended special thanks to Abdul Rahman’s family for their steadfast support, and to the Egyptian Chess Federation for their ongoing work in developing the country’s chess talent pipeline.
A Win for African Chess
Sameh’s triumph signals a major breakthrough for African chess on the world stage and serves as an inspiration to thousands of young players across the continent. His victory is a testament to years of preparation, passion, and the rising competitiveness of African nations in mind sports. As Africa celebrates this momentous win, all eyes are now on Abdul Rahman Sameh as a future Grandmaster and potential world champion in the making.
