In a world where so much can change in a blink of an eye, it is perhaps reassuring that there is one constant.
The nation which prior to the start of the African Individual Chess Championship was tipped to atop won another Grand Master title through Hesham Abdelrahman after beating competition from Zambia’s Andrew Kayonde.
Having beaten Kayonde -who will leave Uganda as the country’s darling- in the eighth round, Hesham only needed a draw against South Africa’s Daniel Cawdery in the final round to enter the history books.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” an emotional Hesham told this website after receiving his trophy and $3000 prize money. “I’m extremely happy and speechless. I have waited for this moment all my life and here I am now, the new Grand Master.”
In 2015, making his maiden appearance in the African Individual Chess Championship, Hesham only managed a sixteenth finish in a tournament that was dominated by his compatriots.
Coming into this edition, nobody doubted his talent, but all eyes were on his fellow countrymen, Grand Masters Adly Ahmed, Samy Shoker and El Gindy Essam.
The duo of El Gindy and Adly are former African champions, and along with the rated 2489, one of the GMs was favourite to win the much coveted prize.
The 23 year old admittedly thought along the same lines.
“To be honest, I didn’t fancy my chances initially. We (Egypt) have very excellent and experienced players and my thinking was not far from others.”
But after downing Kayonde, the new GM says the story changed and he started thinking positively.
“I celebrated after beating Kayonde not because I thought my next opponent is weak but because a draw would make me champion.
“I knew he (Cawdery) was rated higher than me and I also knew it was going to be a tough game but I had beaten highly ranked players than him before.”
Victory attained through guts, fight and a moment of magic showed that the Egyptian overcame the hardest of a hurdle. The turning point came in the second last round of the championship.
In what has arguably been the most competitive tourney in Africa, Hesham beat International Masters Arthur Ssegwanyi and Arab Adlane among others enroute to his memorable victory.
With 7 points to his name, only a half a point separated him from the second placed person.
For Hesham, a tournament that began with victory over Uganda’s Farouk Fauza ended in a perfect way.
Hesham now becomes the latest GM in Africa, and actively, the fifth in Egypt.
