CM Simphiwe Dlamini made history as the first-ever Eswatini player to win the Eswatini Open, topping the Open Section of the 7th edition with 5.5 points. Held from 4 to 6 September and coinciding with Eswatini’s Independence Day (Somhlolo Day) on 6 September, the championship brought chess enthusiasts from across southern Africa together in a spectacular celebration of national pride, tactical brilliance and international sportsmanship.
The championship got off to a prestigious start on Friday, graced by the Mbabane Municipal Council CEO, Ms Gciniwe Fakudze, who represented our esteemed Patron, Hon. Minister of ICT Savannah Maziya. Her opening remarks set an inspiring tone for three days of high-stakes competitive play.
An event of this magnitude was made possible through crucial corporate partnerships. We extend our deepest gratitude to Sincephetelo MVA Fund and iF’s Lounge for their generous sponsorship and steadfast commitment to driving sports development across Eswatini.
Open Section — A Historic Home Victory
- 1st — CM Simphiwe Dlamini (SWZ), 5.5 pts: HISTORY MADE! Simphiwe etched his name in the record books as the first-ever Eswatini player to win the Eswatini Open.
- 2nd — Galilei Carquete (MOZ), 5.0 pts
- 3rd — Celso Andre Manjate (MOZ), 5.0 pts
- 4th — Jamal Hamid Harmon Gulamo (SWZ), 5.0 pts
- Tied 5th — CM Lebajoa Tsephe (LES) & Lwazi Selepe (RSA), 5.0 pts
Ladies Section
- 1st — WCM Cheila Andre Sitoe (MOZ), 6.0 pts
- 2nd — WCM Neusa Aridas De Castro (MOZ), 5.5 pts
- 3rd — WFM Ngatane Lieketseng (LES), 5.0 pts
- 4th — Ana Malenda (MOZ), 4.0 pts
- Tied 5th — Lidia Jose Sozinho (MOZ) & Tivumile Ngozo (SWZ), 4.0 pts
Special Recognition: U16 Champion Tivumile Ngozo stood tall as the top-performing Eswatini player in a heavily contested Ladies Section.
U1600 Section
- 1st — Refuoe Ramakabane (LES), 5.0 pts
- 2nd — Tadala Mwale (SWZ), 5.0 pts
- 3rd — Thabani Gama (SWZ), 4.0 pts
- 4th — Bonginkosi Dlamini (SWZ), 3.5 pts
- Tied 5th — Gil Filipe Manjate (MOZ), Wenziwe Xaba (SWZ), Thamsanqa Masuku (SWZ) & Gcina Nhlengethwa (SWZ), 3.5 pts
Special Recognition: Current U20 Champion Wenziwe Xaba put up a fierce fight to secure a top-five position in the standings.
Veteran Category
A special shoutout to Sobhi Mziyako, who took home the Veteran Prize following a commendable performance across all seven rounds.
Congratulations to all our champions, prize winners and participants who made the Eswatini Open 2026 an unforgettable milestone for local chess!
Via Eswatini Chess on Facebook — view original post