Led by its dynamic president Eric Bopala, a very strong Quebec delegation made the trip to Côte d'Ivoire to participate in the 2023 Francophonie Championships and won most of the trophies!
This year, for the first time in its history, the Rencontres Internationales des Echecs Francophones (RIDEFs) took place in Sub-Saharan Africa. The International Francophone Chess Association (AIDEF) organized this event in partnership with the Ivorian Chess Federation. The two presidents, Patrick Van Hoolandt and Justin Brou, joined forces to make it happen.
The International Francophone Chess Meetings (RIDEF), financially supported by FIDE, took place from July 1 to 13 in the prestigious "Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research" in Yamoussoukro, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire. A total of 76 players from 17 countries competed for the prize fund of 17,000 euros in the Open, Women, Senior and Veteran categories.
There were also separate rapid and blitz tournaments. The games on the first 20 boards were broadcast live on various online platforms.
The reigning U18 world champion, Quebec IM Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux (pictured above, left), is the new champion of La Francophonie 2023. Shawn tied for first place with GM Bator Sambuev, also from Quebec (both scored 7.5/9) but came out on top by winning the direct encounter. Another Quebecer, IM Olivier-Kenta Chiku-Ratte, netted 6.5/9 and completed the podium.
Among the women, a regular at the tournament, WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (pictured below, left), who is also from Quebec, won the title with 6 points.
IM Damir Levacic (Monaco) is Senior Champion
Mohamed Lameti (Morocco) Veteran champion
IM Loïc Travadon (France) Rapids champion
GM Victor Bologan (Moldova) Blitz champion
IA Laurent Freyd officiated the competition, assisted by Kpan Deckalet Mario Prosper (deputy arbiter), Esso, Ulrich Wilfried, Okoro, Aderemi Bankole Mubarak, Dzoglo, Ave MariaSename, Melvin, A. Weah and Rakotomaharo, Yves Andre.
But the RIDEF is not only about competition. It is also an opportunity for Francophone chess players to share the moments of conviviality, cultural and festive activities conducive to establishing lasting links and developing North-South mutual aid.
In addition to the scheduled sightseeing excursions, the program included several training sessions.
Over two days preceding the start of the RIDEFs, IA Laurent Freyd conducted a national arbiter training course of about twelve hours at the headquarters of the Ivorian Chess Federation in Abidjan. Twenty participants attended. This new approach is part of a pilot program with the Planning & Development Commission and the FIDE Referees Commission to support the development of refereeing in countries that still don't have an established curriculum.
FIDE Executive Director GM Victor Bologan, who visited Yamoussoukro as an official representative of FIDE, also organized a master class on the morning of July 2 at the Canaan Hills Hotel for thirty students.
Victor also kindly made himself available at the end of the second and fourth rounds to analyze the games with the players who wished.
On the morning of July 5, the Minister Governor of the Yamoussoukro district, Dr Augustin Thiam, met with an official chess delegation consisting of Victor Bologan, FIDE Executive Director, Patrick Van Hoolandt, President of AIDEF, Justin Brou, President of the Ivorian Chess Federation and Éric Bopala, President of the Quebec Chess Federation.
After a warm welcome, the parties had a constructive discussion. At the end of the meeting, convinced that children who learn chess are better prepared to face academic challenges and develop essential skills for their future, the Minister made a commitment to introduce chess into the school curriculum of 2024 in the entire Yamoussoukro district. It will be a pilot project before extending it to the entire country.
Eric Bopala also offered to provide several copies of the book used in Quebec for learning chess. The Minister Governor also expressed his desire to award a special "Félix Houphouët-Boigny" fair play prize to one of the participants. After consultations, the organizers decided to award it to Laurent Freyd for his relentless efforts and commitment to fair play over many years of working in the French Federation and FIDE.
The prize was presented to Laurent by the Secretary General of the Foundation during the closing ceremony.
In the end, the president of the Quebec Chess Federation, Eric Bopala, announced that the 10th "Rencontres Internationales des Echecs Francophones" would take place in the summer of 2024 in Quebec City.
Photos: official website
Official website: www.9ridef.net
