Bilel Bellahcene and Shahenda Wafa are the 2026 African chess champions

Bilel Bellahcene and Shahenda Wafa won the African Chess Championship titles in Jwaneng, Botswana, both prevailing on tiebreaks after close finishes. Bellahcene defended his open title after sharing first place with Bassem Amin on 7½/9, while Wafa claimed her fourth continental crown after tying with her sister Shrook in the women’s section. Banele Mhango and Sasha Mongeli completed the podiums with bronze-medal performances. | Photos: African Chess Confederation