THE 16th Africa Youth Chess Championships, which ended at Dominican Convent School, attracted more than 450 players from 17 African countries, further cementing Zimbabwe’s reputation as a capable host of major international sporting events.
Kenya emerged as the overall champions after collecting 10 medals — four gold, two silver and four bronze — marking the first time the East African nation has dominated the continental youth tournament since its inception in 1976.
According to Kenyan team officials, their country’s success was anchored on a disciplined preparation programme that prioritised opening theory, endgame mastery and psychological resilience.
The impressive performance has already caught the attention of Zimbabwean coaches and administrators, who believe similar methods can be adopted to sharpen the country’s youth chess development structures.
Zimbabwe fielded a competitive team but fell short in its bid for medals. Despite the outcome, Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) president Todd Mapingire said Kenya’s achievement offered valuable lessons for local players and officials.
“The Kenyan team has shown what focused training and strategic planning can achieve,” Mapingire told NewsDay Sport.
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“We are studying their approach and will incorporate those lessons as we build our own development pathway.”
Mapingire said the championships provided a crucial platform for Zimbabwe’s young players to test themselves against some of the continent’s best emerging talents.
He described Zimbabwe’s participation as “baby steps” but stressed that the federation is committed to rapid improvement, aiming to become a serious threat across Africa in the near future.
The tournament also underscored strong institutional support, with the Ministry of Sport, the Sports and Recreation Commission, Dominican Convent School staff and the Zimbabwe Republic Police all playing key roles in ensuring a safe and smoothly run event.
Mapingire added that the federation intends to pursue regular hosting of similar continental competitions to give local players increased exposure and to build a stronger pipeline for future success.