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2021 African Junior Chess Championship

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2021 African Junior Chess Championship

The 2021 African Junior Chess Championship is all set for the historic capital city of Monrovia, Liberia.

The continent’s premier events will start from 28th December 2021 to 5th January 2022 and attract some of Africa’s top junior players. This year’s edition marks the 33rd edition of the event.

Poster for the event.
Poster for the event.

Egyptian challenge

GM Fawzy Adham of Egypt and WFM Luzia Pires of Angola are the defending champions in the Open and Ladies section from the 2019 edition. The Covid pandemic prevented the event from taking place in 2020. 

Interestingly, GM Fawzy Adham will not be playing in the event, having already won twice (2018 and 2019).  

Egypt has confirmed that ten-year-old David George will be in action. David George won a silver medal in the 2021 edition of the U18 African Youth Chess Championship in Ghana. He represents the next generation of Egyptian stars following in the footsteps of GM Amin Bassem and GM Adly Ahmed.

Reception for 10 year old David George at Cairo airport after winning silver medal in 2021 African Youth U18 posing with Hesham Ghindy the President of the Egyptian Chess Federation.
Reception for 10 year old David George at Cairo airport after winning silver medal in 2021 African Youth U18 posing with Hesham Ghindy the President of the Egyptian Chess Federation.

Liberia’s hopes

Abigael Karyah will lead the Liberian challenge in the Ladies section. She is only 13 years old and the reigning champion.

13 years old Abigael Karyah will lead he Liberian challenge in the Ladies section.
13 years old Abigael Karyah will lead he Liberian challenge in the Ladies section.

 

Thomas Karayah who was the coach to the Liberian team in Batumi was interviewed about the event on Radio ECOWAS. Click on the media link below.

The former President of the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) and Finance Minister of the Republic of Liberia 🇱🇷 Hon. Dr Samuel D. Tweah, Jr (in black suit) and current LCF President and Assistant Minister for Energy of the Republic of Liberia🇱🇷, Hon. William Telebo Thompson tested each other's under the "supervision" of the Youth and Sports Minister of the Republic of Liberia 🇱🇷 , Hon. D. Zoegar Wilson .
The former President of the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) and Finance Minister of the Republic of Liberia 🇱🇷 Hon. Dr Samuel D. Tweah, Jr (in black suit) and current LCF President and Assistant Minister for Energy of the Republic of Liberia🇱🇷, Hon. William Telebo Thompson tested each other’s under the “supervision” of the Youth and Sports Minister of the Republic of Liberia 🇱🇷 , Hon. D. Zoegar Wilson.
Monrovia City Hall which is the playing venue for the 2021 African Junior Chess Championship.
Monrovia City Hall which is the playing venue for the 2021 African Junior Chess Championship.

The 2021 African Junior Chess Championship promises to be an exciting event for the next generation of the continents players.

Download the Invitational letter for the 2021 AJCC. 

Kenya’s participation

Kenya has hosted the African Junior a record three times (1992, 1993 and 1998). William Juma won the bronze medal in the 1990 edition held in Gaborone, Botswana.

Kenya’s recent participation in the event was in the 2016 edition held in Mahe, Seychelles and the 2019 edition held in Kampala, Uganda in 2016.

List of past winners

List of past winners.
List of past winners.

Chess facts about Liberia

The Liberia Chess Federation was founded on November 29, 2014, with her first official president being   Hon. Samuel D Tweah Jr.
Two years later, the federation got accredited by the world governing chess body (FIDE), and attended her first Olympiad in 2018 in Batumi, Georgia.
The current president of the Liberia Chess Federation is Hon William Telebo Thompson.
The federation’s offices are located at Tokpah Camp, Old Road, Monrovia.

Interesting facts about Liberia

Liberia began as a settlement of the American Colonisation Society, which believed black people would face better chances for freedom and prosperity in Africa than in the United States.

Departure of African emigrants for Liberia from The_Illustrated American, 21st March 1896. Source www.kiddle.co.
Departure of African emigrants for Liberia from The_Illustrated American, 21st March 1896. Source www.kiddle.co.

The country declared its independence on 26th July 1847.

Liberia is the only African republic to have self-proclaimed independence without gaining independence from any other power. It is also Africa’s first and oldest modern republic.

Liberia on the map.
Liberia on the map.

Liberia has more ships registered under a flag of convenience than any other country except Panama.

About 12 per cent of the world’s ships fly the flag of Liberia.

Monrovia is the capital city of Liberia.

Christianopolis was the capital city of Liberia. The name changed later to Monrovia after James Monroe, a former president of the United States.

Photo from downtown Monrovia, Liberia. Photo credit www.kiddle.co.
Photo from downtown Monrovia, Liberia. Photo credit www.kiddle.co.

Links

Download the Invitational letter for the 2021 AJCC. 

Thomas Karayah interview on Radio ECOWAS.  Click on the media link below.

GM Adham & WFM Pires crowned African Junior Champions.

Standings & Results of Ladies section 2019 Africa Junior Chess Championship.

Standings & Results of Open section 2019 Africa Junior Chess Championship.

Selected games from round 1 & 2 of the 2019 Africa Junior Chess Championship.

1st report on the 2019 African Junior Chess Championship by Kenya Chess Masala.

Day 1 report on the 2019 Africa Junior by Africa Chess Media.

IM Fawzy Adham win 2018 Africa Junior Chess Championship.

IM David Silva of Angola wins 2017 Africa Junior Chess Championship.

IM Nassr Ali of Algeria wins 2016 Africa Junior Chess Championship.

Further reflection on the 2015 African Junior Chess Championship.

IM David Silva of Angola wins 2015 Africa Junior Chess Championship.

Thomas Saah wins 2019 Liberian National Chess Championship.