A strong showing in Jwaneng sees junior talent, seasoned champions and rising contenders deliver standout results at the African Individual Chess Championship.
Jwaneng, Botswana (29 June 2026) – It was a weekend of bold moves and sharp minds as South Africa’s chess talent stepped up on one of Africa’s toughest stages.
South African chess players delivered a standout collective performance at the 2026 African Individual Chess Championship held in Jwaneng, Botswana, with several impressive results across both the Open and Women’s sections, highlighting the country’s growing depth in the sport.
Among the most notable achievements, Caleb Levitan also impressed, finishing as Africa’s highest-placed Junior (U20) in the Open section. Levitan ended on 6/9 and placed seventh overall, confirming his status as one of the continent’s most promising young talents.
In the Women’s section, Hayley Nel stood out as Africa’s top Junior (U20) performer. She finished fourth overall on 6/9 after a strong final-round victory, narrowly missing out on a medal but underlining her rapid rise on the continental stage.
In the classical format, Banele Mhango produced one of the tournament’s best South African performances, finishing third overall in the Open section. Grandmaster Kenny Solomon claimed the Blitz Championship title after an outstanding run in which he scored 8/9 to finish clear first ahead of a strong international field.
There were also solid contributions from across the South African squad. Kenny Solomon added to his Blitz title with a strong classical showing, finishing sixth overall in the Open section on 6/9. Raphael Felix concluded his campaign after a competitive run that at one stage placed him near the top of the standings, while Michael Simpson and James Dinham both ended on 5/9 following hard-fought final rounds.
In the Women’s section, Chisomo Boshoma delivered another strong performance, finishing fifth overall, while Chloe Badenhorst ended after a composed final-round win. Anzel Laubscher finished after a strong display, challenging the last game in a tightly contested field.
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Bafana Hit Five Goals as AFCON Qualifying Campaign Takes FlightOverall, South Africa emerged as one of the standout nations of the championship, with three players finishing in the Open top 10 and strong performances across both divisions. The results once again highlighted the country’s growing strength and consistency on the African chess stage.
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