The 2024 African Youth Chess Championship (AYCC) in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa concluded with the Malawi youth team showcasing remarkable talent and determination.
The championship, which took place from June 15th to 23rd, provided a platform for the young Malawian chess team to compete against counterparts from 18 countries, including Egypt, South Africa, Botswana, Tunisia, Kenya, Angola, Madagascar, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania.
The players competed in six age categories: under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18. However, Malawi did not compete in the under-18 age group.
Beston Phiri and Patil Vijaykumar Shivasai secured 4 points out of 9 games. Alipo Namangale finished with 3 points out of 9 rounds, while the remaining players exhibited commendable performances, although some faced challenges against stronger opponents.
According to Francisco Mwangupili, the publicity secretary of the Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM), they will identify areas for improvement.
“The AYCC served as a valuable learning experience for all our players, many of whom participated in an international competition for the first time. We firmly believe that they are now even more motivated and prepared to achieve greater success in future events. CHESSAM will carefully analyze the feedback from team captains to pinpoint specific areas that require further attention to enhance the performance of Malawian youth on the international stage. Our commitment to nurturing and supporting our young talents in excelling at international events remains unwavering. We express our heartfelt gratitude to Pyxus Agriculture, Alliance One, Dadaz Academy, and all parents for their unwavering support that enabled our youth to participate in the 2024 AYCC,” explained Mwangupili.
Pyxus Agriculture and Alliance One supported six players out of the fourteen, including Hopeson Banda, Jennifer Justin, Lawrence Mwale, Glory Sam, Clara Robert, and Blessings Phiri.
Beston Phiri was sponsored by CHESSAM, while Dadaz Academy and parents supported the other players, including Xavier Chinyama, Michelle Fosa, Dominic Chitsime, Shivasai Vijaykumar, Alipo Namangale, Gabriel Chirwa, and Samson Nyondo.
After the championship, Egypt finished in first place with 7 gold medals, South Africa in second place with 3 gold medals, and Botswana finished third with 1 gold medal.