Ghana Championship 2021: Adu-Poku and Felix claim titles
The finals of the Ghana National Chess Championship, two 10-player round-robin tournaments (Open and Ladies sections), were held over five days from December 26-30 at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium. The lineup included the top 5 highest-rated players in both sections and the top 5 finishers in the qualifying stage that took place from November 12-14, 2021. Open Section Dr Kwabena Adu-Poku, also known as BN146, won the open category and his first national title in grand style, completing the event unbeaten. He finished the tournament with an impressive 7½ out of 9, a full point ahead of the favourite and the silver winner FM John Hasford whom he beat in the direct encounter. The young medical doctor is quite famous in Ghanaian chess circles thanks to his constant efforts to promote chess with his YouTube channel, which he runs with Bernard Anhwere (pictured below), who came in third in the championship. The tournament also saw a few major upsets as defending champion IM Francis Eric Anquandah and many-time member of the national team CM Jamena Joseph Mensah ended up in 7th and 10th positions, respectively. Both did not make it to the Ghana National Chess Team (The Golden Knights). Final standing open: 1 Adu-Poku, Kwabena 1925 7½ 2 FM Hasford, John Kojo 1990 6½ 3 Anhwere, Bernard 1847 5½ 4 Fomevor, Cephas Clinton 1750 5 5 CM Adu, Jnr Lionel 1829 5 6 Ameku, Philip Elikem 1881 4½ 7 IM Anquandah, Francis Eric 1965 4½ 8 Akpa, Prince 1655 2½ 9 Aduamah, David Kofi 1753 2 10 CM Mensah, Joseph Jamena 1932 2 Ladies Section WCM Tobi Abena Felix won the National Women’s Chess Championship for the fifth consecutive time and proved her dominance by scoring 8½/9 (making a draw in the final round). Maud Benson (pictured below) came in second with 7½ points after losing only to Tobi and drawing newcomer Tiwaa Abena Appau who finished 5th and qualified for the national team (The Golden Knights) Dzidzor Esi Dotse, the only player to hold Tobi to a draw, finished third with 6½/9. Final standings women: 1 Felix, Tobi 1448 8½ 2 Benson, Maud 1265 7½ 3 Dotse, Dzidzor Esi 1150 6½ 4 Ashley, Christiana Naa Merley 1219 6 5 Appau, Abena Tiwaa 5 6 Addo, Pearl 4 7 Majid-Michel, Lady Rowena 1062 3 8 Hephzibah, Awura-Ama Manubea 2½ 9 Danso, Claudia Adomah 1½ 10 Hadassah-Mercy, Aforo Tandoh 0½ The Golden Knights The top 5 players in both the opens and ladies’ sections earn a spot on the Ghana National Chess Team (The Golden Knights). Text: Maxwell Kwasi Kporxah Photo: Ghana Chess Association
Gabor Kallai (1959-2021)
Hungarian chess has suffered an enormous loss with the tragic and unexpected death of Gabor Kallai on the last day of 2021. He was a real gentleman in all aspects. We will always miss his kind smile. Gabor Kallai was born in Budapest on February 21, 1959. Chess filled his days fully from 14 when he joined the MTK Budapest Chess Club. Famous GM-s Laszlo Szabo and Gyozo Forintos were his first teachers, and they made Gabor an enthusiastic lover of the game. He became IM in 1982 and GM in 1995. Gabor was involved in various chess activities throughout his life, excelling in all of them. As a player: 1981 bronze medal in the World Team Ch. of Universities1984 Silver medal in the Hungarian Open Championship1988 7th place in the Rapid World Championship in MexicoMultiple national team champion with the MTK and Miskolc teams in Hungary, with Bern in Switzerland and with Strasbourg in France. As a coach: Starting from 1975, for several years, he was one of the first coaches of Susan Polgar, who later became the Women’s World Champion1983-1987 Assisting GM Zoltan Ribli in the Candidate cycles 2002 Team Captain of the Silver medallist Hungarian Olympic Team (Bled)From 2012 he was an external coach of the Kasparov Chess Foundation (New York). As an International Arbiter: Chief Arbiter of the following great matches: Leko – Khalifman (Budapest, 2000)Leko – Kramnik (Budapest, 2001)Portisch – Spassky (Heviz, 2007) As an author: His most successful publication, the Book of Openings, has been translated into five languages.He published chess articles in several newspapers and magazines. Gabor also worked as a commentator and host of the chess broadcasts on Hungarian Sports TV. From 2015 to his untimely death, he was a Master Lecturer at the University of Physical Educations in Budapest. His list of awards includes Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit in 2002, Coach of the Year (3rd place) in Hungary, both for the silver medal achieved at the Bled Chess Olympiad. FIDE extends its sincere condolences to Gabor’s family, friends, and loved ones.