GM Adham Fawzy of Egypt emerged triumphant in the 1st Kuwait International Chess Festival 2025 Masters, which took place at the Grand Hotel Salmiya in Kuwait City from January 5-13, 2025. The Masters section attracted 39 competitors, six of whom were from African Chess Confederation affiliates. Egypt’s team consisted of Dema Alaa, Ahmed Youssef, Hamed Wafa, and Adham Fawzy, while Algeria and Morocco each fielded one player.
Fawy, seeded third in the Masters section, began the tournament with a draw against India’s Ranjithkumar Mithilesh in the first round. He then achieved four consecutive victories before experiencing his first and only defeat of the tournament in round six against GM G.A Stany of India. Fawy’s 7 ½ points were sufficient to secure the Kuwait International Chess Festival Masters title. GM Shahin Lorparizangeneh and GM G.A Stany were tied on seven points each, whereas Algeria’s GM Bilel Bellahcene secured fourth place with 6½ points.