Things heating up in Lusaka!!

Two thirds of the 2005 African Individual Chess Championships have been completed and the crucial rounds lie ahead. Both Grandmasters are tied for joint 1st, but it appears as if the strong players are playing very cautious and have given a number of draws.  No player has dominated and thus, the top six qualification  spots and top three medals are still for the taking.

FM Nase Lungu of Zambia has been the sensation of the tournament having drawn with GM Ahmed Adly and having held IM Essam El-Gindy and FM  Ali Frhat, both of Egypt. Ali has also been impressive thus far having beat Algeria's IM Aimen Rizouk  and holding GM Slim Belkhodja of Tunisia and IM Amon Simutowe of Zambia. Zambia can also boast on Stanley Chumfwa who is on 4-2 with draws against Belkhodja and  IM Fouad El-Taher.

It appears as if the top players are playing very cautiously since no one has opened an in surmountable  lead with three rounds left. This means that the top six qualifying spots for the World Cup tournament are still open. Simutowe and IM Watu Kobese of South Africa have  dropped two games, yet they are only one point back of the field.

In the women's competition, Botswana's Tuduetso Sabure won her first five matches before dropping  her head-to-head match with T. Takawira-Makumbe. They are both tied on 5-1.  Top-ranked Sohir Busta of Egypt  is tied joint 2nd with the Zambian duet of E. Tembo and Linda Nangwale on 4-2.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 12 November 2005