2025 Zone 4.5 Africa Chess Championships

The 2025 Zone 4.5 Africa Chess Championship ended last week with IM Andrew Kayonde of Zambia winning the Open Section with seven points out of nine rounds.

FM Donaldo Paiva of Mozambique took the silver with seven points but a lower tie-break, while Sergio Miguel of Angola took the bronze medal with six points.

A total of 21 players from five African national federations participated.

Ladies Section

WIM Esperanca Caxita of Angola won the Ladies Section with 7.5 points out of nine rounds. Her compatriot WFM Ednasia Junior took the silver with seven points, while WFM Natalie Katlo Banda of Botswana took the bronze.

A total of 18 players from seven federations took part.

Event details

Venue: Hotel Nempanzu in Soyo, Angola

Dates: 21st to 28th October 2025

Time Control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move 1.

Zone 4.5 countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini (Swaziland), Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The winners gets personal rights to participate in the African Chess Championship.

The event was held under the motto of “Angola 50 Years” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Angola’s National Independence, which took place on 11th November 2025.