The Malawi National Chess Teams have concluded their participation in the 2026 World Chess Olympiad, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The teams competed in 11 rounds against teams from around the world. The Open Team, or Men's team, entered the Olympiad ranked 121st and finished 129th. They secured victories against Sierra Leone, Jersey, Antigua and Barbuda, Timor-Leste, and one other opponent.
The Open Team recorded losses against six opponents during the competition. According to the Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM) spokesperson, Francisco Mwangupuli, the players achieved an average win rate of approximately 45%. FIDE Master Joseph Mwale recorded the highest individual win rate at 50%. A notable performance was seen in the opening round when Candidate Master George Mwale held Grand Master Ioannis Papaioannou of Greece to a draw.
The Open Team had five players with international titles going into the Olympiad, while Aaron Phiri was the only untitled player. One of the team's objectives was for Aaron to attain the Candidate Master title, requiring a 50% score over his first seven games. However, Aaron finished just short of the required mark and did not attain the title at this Olympiad. The team also finished 17th among the 49 African teams participating in the Open Section.
The Women's Team started the Olympiad ranked 137th and finished 142nd. They recorded four victories, one draw, and six losses, with wins against Gabon, Niger, and two other opponents. The biggest individual highlights came from Anny George and Shalom Kapende, who both earned the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title during the Olympiad.
Anny George earned her title earlier in the competition, while Shalom Kapende secured hers after drawing against Bouavone Keosavangh of Laos in Round 10. These title achievements were significant as the Women's Team had set earning at least one international title as one of its objectives for the Olympiad. CHESSAM will award bonuses to the new title earners as well as team members, based on performance.
The team's performance highlighted areas that need to be addressed, particularly the need for more intensive preparation ahead of the Olympiad. This includes a dedicated team camp with rigorous training and preparation. However, due to resource constraints, such a camp was not held this time. Azam TV and the National Bank of Malawi sponsored the teams' attire.
CHESSAM congratulated all the players, captains, and delegation members for representing Malawi in Samarkand and for their commitment throughout the competition. The team's mixed results reflect the challenges faced by the team, and the need for improvement in future competitions. The experience gained will likely contribute to the team's growth and development in the sport.
Key points
- Malawi's Open Team finished 129th in the 2026 World Chess Olympiad.
- Two players from the Women's Team earned the Woman Candidate Master title.
- The team's performance highlighted the need for more intensive preparation ahead of future Olympiads.
