The African Individual Chess Championship is the annual continental championship for African federations, organised by the African Chess Confederation. The 2026 edition was held in April; the venue and full results are in the FIDE calendar.
Format: 9-round Swiss at classical time control. The top 2-3 finishers earn qualification to the next FIDE World Cup.
Africa’s chess scene has been growing significantly in the past decade. Egypt has long been the strongest chess nation in Africa, with multiple grandmasters (Ahmed Adly, Bassem Amin) and frequent African Continental victories. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Angola also field strong national teams. The Casablanca Chess (Morocco) event has raised the profile of African chess at the elite level since 2024.
The African Individual remains the primary route for African players into the FIDE championship cycle. The 2026 winner and top finishers will compete at the next FIDE World Cup alongside qualifiers from the European, Asian, and American Continentals plus rating qualifiers.
For the host announcement, current standings, and African Chess Confederation news, see the right column.