António David Anes Monteiro, representing Casa Benfica da Cidade da Praia, has emerged as the champion of the 2026 Campeonato Regional Individual Absoluto de Santiago Sul (CRIA) chess tournament. The event, which took place from October 2 to 4 in the Cidade da Praia, was organized by the Associação Regional de Xadrez de Santiago Sul (ARXSS). Monteiro secured 4 points from 5 matches, successfully defending his title from 2025.
The championship was closely contested, with Monteiro and Gil Teixeira leading the pack. Teixeira won the first three matches but lost to Monteiro in the fourth round, resulting in a tie for the lead. Both players won their fifth-round matches, with Monteiro defeating Amílcar Monteiro and Teixeira beating Anderson Barradas. The title was ultimately decided by their head-to-head confrontation, favoring Monteiro.
The CRIA 2026 tournament featured 10 players from clubs in the region, all affiliated with the Federação Cabo-verdiana de Xadrez (FCX). The competition was held in a Swiss system format over five rounds, with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. The event was homologated by both the FIDE and the FCX. José Vaz led the direction of the proof, while Sidney Spínola was in charge of the arbitration.
The top three finishers, António David Anes Monteiro, Gil Teixeira, and Amílcar Aristides Monteiro, received trophies, medals, and monetary prizes totaling 40,000 escudos, double the amount awarded in the 2025 edition. The ARXSS noted that the CRIA 2026 demonstrated a competitive regional chess scene, with the outcome decided in the final match.
Amílcar Monteiro, president of the ARXSS, expressed his ambition to popularize chess by introducing it into schools and neighborhoods. This initiative aims to encourage more young people to transition from informal play to official competitions. Monteiro's achievement has also earned him a spot in the final phase of the X Campeonato Nacional Individual Absoluto (CNIA), organized by the FCX.
Gil Teixeira finished second with 4 points, followed by Amílcar Aristides Monteiro with 3 points after the application of tiebreak criteria. Aguinaldo Vera Cruz Júnior and Vladmir Carvalho also scored 3 points, placing them in the subsequent positions. The CRIA 2026 event saw an increase in participation compared to 2025, with two more players joining the competition.
The Associação Regional de Xadrez de Santiago Sul (ARXSS) and the Federação Cabo-verdiana de Xadrez (FCX) are committed to promoting chess in Cabo Verde. The recent championship has showcased the region's competitive chess talent, and efforts to expand the game's reach are ongoing.
Key points
- António David Anes Monteiro won the CRIA 2026 chess tournament with 4 points from 5 matches.
- The CRIA 2026 event featured 10 players and offered prizes totaling 40,000 escudos.
- Monteiro's victory qualified him for the X Campeonato Nacional Individual Absoluto (CNIA).
