Team Kenya was again in a celebratory mood after the 7th round of the 2022 Chennai Olympiad. The Open team whitewashed Papua New Guinea 4-0 while the Ladies did the same to Sudan. A great day indeed!
The Open section.The Ladies section.
Martin Njoroge continues to bulldoze his way through the event and now has six points from seven rounds. In round seven he crushed Rupert Jones of Papua New Guinea who was a long term resident of Botswana several years ago and he has even visited Nairobi to play in the 1990 Kenya Open.
His victories will mean that he will now cross the 2000 Elo barrier when the following rating list comes out on 1st September 2022.
Martin Njoroge of Kenya and his opponent Rupert Jones of Papua New Guinea. Photo credit Lana Photography & FIDE.
Rupert Jones v Martin Njoroge
Fancy Stuart Ben Nguku
African chess news
Uganda defeated Somalia 4-0 while Tanzania overcame the US Virgin Islands 2.5-1.5.
Egypt held Ireland to a 2-2 draw while Zambia overcame Thailand 2.5-1.5. Zimbabwe punched above their weight with a 2-2 draw against higher-ranked South Africa.
Team Algeria. Photo credit Babatunde Ogunsiku.From left Rwyet Debesai Zerabruk of Eritrea and WFM Junior Ednasia of Angola. Photo credit FIDE.FM Joseph Mwale of Malawi. Photo credit Lana Photography.Madagascar taking on Tunisia in a match they won 2.5-1.5 in round seven. IM Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo (left) defeating GM Amir Zaibi. Babatunde Ogunsiku.
IM Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo v GM Amir Zaibi
Other news
Armenia continues to hold the lead after clinching a dramatic draw against the USA. The USA led the match when Sam Shankland played an illegal move on move 91.
He assumed that his opponent Robert Hovhannisyan played 90…Qh1+ and tried to play 91.Kb1-c2. Instead, the Armenian had played 90…Qg2, so Shankland’s move would be illegal. As he had touched his King, Shankland had to make a move with this King, and the only move possible was Qc1 which leads to checkmate! You can watch the dramatic moment here..
Sam Shankland thought that Robert Hovhannisyan had place Qh1+ and moved his King to c2 which was illegal!
India is at the top of the standings in the Ladies’ section. In round seven, they defeated Azerbaijan 2.5-1.5 and now face Ukraine in round eight.
The charming WIM Tijana Blagojevic of Serbia. Photo credit FIDE.WFM Marija Sibajeva of Lithuania. Photo credit FIDE.Having fun at the Olympiad! Photo credit FIDE.
