Cape Verde is set to become the center of African youth chess brilliance as it hosts the 36th edition of the African Junior Chess Championship from the 17-25 September 2025, with 29 players from 11 nations ready to compete for continental glory.
This is the first time the Cape Verde Island will be hosting the prestigious continental chess competition a testimony of the growth and develop of the game in the country.
The Open section will feature some of Africa’s most promising talents, including Hamed Wafa and David George, who both impressed at the 2025 African Individual Chess Championship and now look to continue making their mark at the junior level.
The Women’s section is equally stacked with rising stars, as Jana Mohamed, Jemima Paulo, Kayyar Sana, Ryma Nassr, Natalie Banda and Chahrazed Djerroud headline a competitive field.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue, Hamed Wafa and Chahrazed Djerroud return as defending champions, aiming to retain their crowns in the face of determined challengers, both looking forward to lifting their third consecutive AJCC titles.
This year’s edition has drawn participants from Egypt, Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Sao Tome and Principe, Uganda, South Africa, and the host nation Cape Verde underlining the continental reach and diversity of the championship.
As the first moves are played, Cape Verde will be the stage where Africa’s junior chess stars write the next chapter of their journey towards greatness. The future of African chess is not just promising it is already here.
