The event held in the Liberian capital of Monrovia saw FM Brahami Lamine score 8 points out of 9 rounds to grab his maiden African title.
On the other hand, WIMLina Nassr won the Ladies section with a perfect 9 points out of 9 rounds to grab her second title. She won her first Africa Junior title in the 2017 edition held in Lome, Togo.
WIM Lina Nassr & FM Brahami Lamine winners of the 2021 African Junior Chess Championships.
Open Section
The Open Section had a total of 18 players from 8 federations. Liberia, as the host nation, had eight players.
Other federations included Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone & Uganda.
Kenya, unfortunately, did not send any participants for this prestigious event.
The playing hall of the 2021 African Junior Chess Championship.
The race for the top spot in the 9th and final round was between FM Brahami Lamine and Callistus Denyefa Eyetonghan of Nigeria. Both had 7 points, and each had a chance of claiming the 2021 Africa Junior Chess Championshiptitle, which comes with a conditional IM title.
Brahami Lamine faced David Lery Debblay of Liberia, which he won and grabbed the gold medal. On the other hand, Callistus Denyefa Eyetonghan lost to one of the top Egyptian junior players, David George, but with 7 points, still managed to grab the silver medal.
Callistus Denyefa Eyetonghan of Nigeria who ended up in second place.
Mohamed Abderrahim Taleb of Mauritania obtained 7 points but had a lower tie-break to take home a bronze medal.
Mohamed Abderrahim Taleb of Mauritania who was third poses with Lewis Ncube the President of the African Chess Confederation.
Benjamin Netanyahu Ajiri of Uganda played well to end up with a respectable 5 points.
Benjamin Netanyahu Ajiri of Uganda.
FM Brahmi Lamine will now receive his IM title by virtue of winning the 2021 Africa Junior Chess Championship. In addition he will obtain a GM norm and personal rights to participate at the 2022 World Junior Chess Championships.
The country boasts of eight International Masters include Lamine and three Grandmasters. The top player in Algeria is GM Bilel Bellahcene, who has a rating of 2508.
It is interesting to note that FM Brahmi Lamine is Algeria’s National Champion and the Junior National Champion!
Vidal Noumbo v FM Brahami Lamine
FM Brahami Lamine v Callistus Eyetonghan Denyefa
Callistus Eyetonghan Denyefa of Nigeria poses with Lewis Ncube the President of the African Chess Confederation.
David George Samir
Ten-year-old Egyptian star David George Samir put up an excellent performance by obtaining six points to end up in 4th place and thus missing a podium finish. The poor lad struggled to record his game as his right hand was in plaster due to an earlier injury.
10 year old David George Samir of Egypt who is expected to step into the shoes of GM Amin Bassem and GM Adly Ahmed.
His game against event winner FM Brahmi Lamine was a fascinating battle.
David George Samir v FM Brahami Lamine
David George Samir’s scoresheet underlying the difficulties he had due to a injured right hand.
Jacob Mitchell v David George Samir
Ladies Section
WIM Lina Nassr and her sister WCM Manel Nassr were the representatives from Algeria, while WFM Naledi Marape was from Botswana. Liberia had five players led by their junior Karyah Abigail.
Lina Nassr of Algeria and winner of the Ladies section.
WIM Lina Nassr won the event with 9 points while her younger sister WCM Manel Nassr obtained 8 points to grab the silver medal. WFM Nalendi Marape grabbed the bronze medal with seven points.
WIM Lina Nassr will now receive a GM norm and personal rights to participate at the 2022 World Junior Chess Championships.
WCM Manel Nassr poses with President Lewis Ncube of the African Chess Confederation.
Abigail Karyah was the top Liberian player in the event with 6 points.
A total of only eight players took part in this section.
Prize winners of the 2021 Africa Junior Chess Championship.
Abigail Karyah v WIM Lina Nassr
Past Winners
List of past winners.Certificate given to Agusto Obafunmilayo for winning the 1st Africa Junior Chess Championship held in Lagos Nigeria in 1980 and confirming him as a FIDE Master.
Free Day
The players spend their free day at the Libassa Ecolounge, Monrovia.
Free day at the Libassa Ecolounge.
Unsung heroes
Nesla Adnane of Algeria (left) who was the Chief Arbiter and Mario Kpan of Ivory Coast who was one of the arbiters.
Nesla Adnane of Algeria was the Chief Arbiter and Mario Kpan of Ivory Coast was one of the arbiters of the event.
In addition both provided extensive photos of the event which appear in this article.
