PHASE ONE QUALIFIERS FOR 2019 NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD
The National Chess Championships, commonly referred to as Nationals, is an annual chess tournament used to determine the National Men and Women’s Chess champions in Ghana. The defending champions for the tournament are IM Francis Anquandah and WCM Tobi Felix for Men’s and Women’s categories respectively. Giving that 2020 is an Olympiad year, the first 5 places in both sections will qualify to constitute the Ghana National Chess Team (nicknamed The Golden Knights) hence the rights to represent Ghana at the 44th World Chess Olympiad scheduled to take place in Russia next year.
The Phase One, the elimination stage, was 7-round swiss tournament that took place from 14th -15th December at the Accra Sports Stadium and featured 35 players. The top 5 performers have qualified to play in the final phase where to come head to head with the already established players for both the men’s and women’s division.
Afterall 7 rounds, Majid-Michel Lady Rowena, Dotse Dzidjor Esi, Rebecca Barnor, Addo Pearl and Mary Barnor have all qualified to the Finals where they will compete the already seeded players namely; Angela Naa Amerley Ayiku, Tobi Felix, Christiana Naa Merley Ashley, Maud Benson and Dorcas Allotey.
For the Men’s division however, Paul Senyegah, Ameku David, Akoto Nana Baffour, Wilson Onuoha and Bernard Anwhere qualify to play the finals with 5 already seeded players Namely Francis Anquandah, Hasford Kojo, Jamena Mensah, Philip Ameku and Lionel Adu Jnr come February 2020. Ghana Chess Association wishes to thank all participants for a successful tournament and shall soon announce dates and venue for the Finals to take place in 2020.