Mbabazi is still unbeaten as Africa Youth Chess enters the penultimate stage
Mbabazi (7pts) is one point ahead of McKenzie, Madagascan Rajaobelina Amboarantsoa and South African Mlaba Khethelo, who are all on six points.
Uganda's Jacinta Mbabazi in action in the girls' U-8 category during the Africa Youth Chess Championship. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Uganda’s youngster Jacinta Mbabazi maintained her lead in the Africa Youth Chess Championship U-8 category with a flawless display that has seen her win all her seven games as the event enters the penultimate stage.
Mbabazi, who entered the event ranked 30th, is currently on top of the category, having won all her games against Ugandan Aretha Karabo Kembabazi, Kenyans Zoey Njeri Ngugi, Kanda Luana Kalya, and Aaliyah Jasmine McKenzie, as well as wins against South Africans Coetzee Niki and Gabrieta Amrieta, and against Egyptian Kamel Romaisaa.
Mbabazi (7pts) is one point ahead of McKenzie, Madagascan Rajaobelina Amboarantsoa and South African Mlaba Khethelo, who are all on six points. The best Ugandan in the open category under this age bracket was Matayo Barigye (5pts), who trails the leader, Egyptian Mahmoud Sameir Zeineldin, who was on 6.5 points after seven rounds.
Uganda's Talia Atubet in action in the girls' U-12 category during the Africa Youth Chess Championship at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, May 20, 2026. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
In the girls' U-12, Ugandan Melisa Edinansi was involved in a four-way tie at the top with Kenyan Naomi Wamwenje, South African Madalisto Ramonyaluoe, Egyptian Said Tawfeik Fatma and Zambian Janelle Mumba Mutale, all on 6 points each.
Egyptian Ahmed Ezaat Hamza leads the open category with 7 points ahead of Botswana’s Keoletile Ngwao and Kenyan Jeremy Aden Duke on 6.5 and 6 points respectively. Uganda’s Arena Candidate Master (ACM) Hathi Yug has 5.5 points, half a point below five opponents, all at 6 points each.
Talia Atubet, on six points, was the best-placed player in joint second place, tied with Egyptian Ahmed Mohamed Ghidaa. Kenyan Woman Canditate Master (WCM) Winnie Kaburo led with 6.5 points in the U-12 cluster with 104 players. In the open, Ugandan Ronald Wabwire was jointly leading with Kenyan Nathaniel Manyeki with 6.5 points each, while Faraja Mumo Muli was third on 6 points.
Titled players Egyptian WFM Ahmed Mohamed Zakaa and Madagascan WCM Aina Mahasambatra were in the lead on 7 and 6 points respectively, while Kenyan Avyana Pandya and South African Sophia Gina Hagen were also on six points each. Ugandans Ruth Thelma Muganzi and WCM Juliet Asaba were on 5.5 points each after the opening seven rounds.
Uganda's Melisa Edinansi in action in the girls' U-10 category during the Africa Youth Chess Championship. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
In the open category Uganda’s best player was Apollo Ahumuza, who was involved in a four-way tie in second on 6 points alongside Ahmed Mustafa Faris (Egypt), Puran Madhav and Ethan Cheezan Adams (SA), and Wela Nsimba (Angola). South African Singh Shaurya led with 6.5 points.
Egyptian Alaa Eldin Raghad and Kenyan WFM Elizabeth Cassidy Maina led the U-16 by half a point, ahead of Uganda’s Olivia Asiimwe and Kenyan WFM Zuri Kaloki, who were tied on 5.5 points each. Another Egyptian, Farid Tamer Waguih, led the open section with 6.5 points, ahead of Ugandan Alvin Muhirwa on 6 points and ahead of AIM Ahmed Gamal El Deen Yaseen (Egypt) and Libyan Ezzedin Tawfik Kweiri who were on 5.5 points each with two rounds to go.
The U-18 had Egyptian FIDE Masters Ahmed Kandil and Eyad Elhusseiny with 7 and 6 points respectively, while Zambian Candidate Master Shane Kennedy, as well as Uganda’s Kur Akut Deng, were on 5 points each.