Africa-Press – Angola. FIDE Masters (FM) Sérgio Miguel, from Escola Ditrov, and Luzia Pires, from 1o de Agosto, won the 4th edition of the Sonangol Chess Tournament in Luanda this Thursday, in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.
Sérgio Miguel, with an Elo rating of 2270, scored 6.5 points over seven rounds, finishing undefeated, in a tournament held as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Sonangol oil company.
In the final round, Sérgio defeated Lino Lopes, from the ISCED Huíla Nucleus, 1-0, confirming first place.
Second place was taken by Candidate Master (CM) Jaime Sonhy, also from Escola Ditrov, also with 6.5 points, after a 1-0 victory over Estevão Sousa, from Electro do Lobito.
The third place went to Alexandre Próspero, from Ditrov, with 4.5 points, after defeating International Master (IM) Catarino Domingos, from Escola de Xadrez Bg5, 1-0.
IM David Silva, from Escola de Xadrez Bg5, three-time African junior champion, finished in fourth position with four points, after beating Joaquim da Costa, from Electro do Lobito, 1-0, in the last round.
In the women’s category, Luzia Pires (Elo 1963) won the title for the third consecutive time, totaling 6.5 points. In the final round she drew (1⁄2-1⁄2) against IM Maria Domingos, from Núcleo do Giga.
The second-placed player was MF Jemima Paulo, from Ditrov, with six points, after a victory over Luísa Tembo (1-0), while the third position belonged to MF Edmásia Júnior, from Escola Macovi, with five points, after overcoming Edivânia Martins in the final round, 1-0.
Renelsa António, from René Castillo do Cunene, occupied fourth place with four points, thanks to her victory against Felícia Felicidade, from Escola Macovi do Uíge, 1-0.
The competition, played in the Swiss system, had the participation of 34 athletes in the federated tournament, 18 male and 16 female, in addition to 41 workers in the recreational category.
Institutionalized in 2023, initially only for workers, the Sonangol Tournament has also included the federated class.
In the 2024 and 2025 editions, in the men’s category, the title was won by David Silva, while in the women’s category, Luzia Pires has won three consecutive trophies.
The awards ceremony will take place this Friday at 3:00 PM in the company’s leisure and events hall.
However, in the morning of the same day, a children’s chess festival will be held, with the participation of approximately 80 children, including the children of employees.
