Salome Kalokoni
15 November 2005
Lusaka — ZAMBIA'S Stanley Chumfwa yesterday qualified to the Chess World Cup's billed for Russia next month after finishing among the top six players at the just-ended African Individual Chess Champion.
And 18-year-old Egyptian Grand Master (GM) Ahmed Adly was yesterday crowned the new African Individual Chess Champion at Chrismar Hotel.
However, it was a sad day for Zambia's highly-rated International Master Amon Simutowe who failed to make it to the Russia championship.
Chumfwa finished in joint second with two other players with 6.5 points after beating Zimbabwe's Mandizha in the last match.
A visibly elated Chumfwa said his dream of playing at the World Cup had been accomplished.
He said he was happy to qualify to the world cup for the first time after only having participated in the African championships for the second time.
"I have been looking forward to participating in the World Cup. It feels good especially that I was playing to win," he said.
"It would be nice to get through to the second round of the World Cup then after that I can start defining my goals."
He added that the ten-day long tournament had been a tricky one.
"The tournament was a very tough one and I had to be careful." he said.
"I was only let down by two of my games I played in the tournament."
And Adly said he was delighted to be the top chess player in Africa.
"It feels good to be first in Africa at the age of 18, it feels really great," Adly said.
Adly, who is also that Arab champion, said he will work hard at the World Cup.
He said this was the second time he was qualifying to the World Cup.
Adly's first major title came in 2001 at the age of 14 when he won the Africa Junior Championships in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, it was not all roses for other Zambian players after they tumbled in their last games.
Zambia's Nase Lungu sank to Egyptian IM Fouad El Taher after a tough match to finish with 5.0 points.
US-based Simutowe had a rough time against Adly when he lost the Egyptian and subsequently fail to make to the Moscow tournament.
In the women's draws, South African Tuduesto Sabure's won the championships with 7.0 points.
The highest-ranking Zambian was Cindy Nangwale who finished with 5.5 points followed by Linda Nangwale and 12-year-old Epah Tembo who were tied on 5.0 points.
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