CAIRO — Egyptian sport continues to assert its strong presence on the continental stage. This time, it is bringing its growing influence to the chessboard. The country keeps showing how far it has come. It also shows how much confidence it has gained.
A new generation of talent announced itself to the continent in emphatic fashion after the national junior team delivered a historic triumph at the 2026 African Youth Chess Championship in Entebbe, Uganda, returning home with the continental crown and qualification for the upcoming World Youth Chess Championships.
Even though only 12 players participated in the tournament, Egypt’s chess team won the competition. They topped the table with six gold, four silver and one bronze medals. They did not just win; they dominated all age categories.
Egypt’s young players handled the pressure with composure. From the under-8 division right through to under-18 level, the Young Pharaohs consistently outclassed their continental rivals.
The dominance reflected years of growing investment in the game, particularly in identifying and nurturing talent from an early age.
Fares Ahmed Mostafa stood out, claiming gold in the under-18 rapid competition after a series of commanding performances. Raghad Alaa El-Din also chipped in, earning a bronze in the same format.
Ahmed Mohamed Kandil kept Egypt’s momentum going with another under-18 gold in rapid chess, further underlining his status as one of Africa’s rising stars.
But the Young Pharaohs’ supremacy became even clearer in the classical chess rounds. The national team was almost unbeatable.
Players like Zein El-Din Mahmoud, Fatima Saeed Tawfik, Hamza Ahmed Ezzat, Fares Ahmed Mostafa, Jana Mohamed Zaki, and Ahmed Mohamed Kandil all snatched gold in their respective categories.
Silver medals followed through Ghaidaa Ahmed Mohamed, Zakaa Ahmed Mohamed and Raghad Alaa El-Din, while Yassin Ahmed Gamal El-Din completed another strong Egyptian showing with bronze.
What happened in Uganda recently revealed that Egypt has a considerable pool of young chess players. Apart from competing for dominance in Africa, they are ready to compete internationally.
Now that World Championship qualification is guaranteed, the emphasis has shifted. These top performing chess players are ready for bigger challenges ahead.
Mokhtar Amara, head of the Egyptian Chess Federation, praised both the players and the coaching staff.
He also thanked the players’ families alongside the Ministry of Youth and Sports, whose backing kept things moving.
Amara added that preparations for the World Championship will be a far greater challenge.
Uganda could prove to be more than just a successful tournament for Egyptian chess. It may well be remembered as the moment a golden generation truly arrived.
