From May 15 to May 28, the CUCA International Chess tournament is taking place
in Luanda, Angola. It is comprised of two events, an Open, and a Women's event,
both of which are nine-round swiss tournaments played at 40 moves for 90 minutes,
followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game and a 30-second increment as
of move one. The event is sponsored by CUCA brewery, the largest in Angola,
has generous conditions including room and board for IM/GMs as well as WGM/WIM/WFMs.
The first prizes for the men's event are 1st - US$ 5000, 2nd - US$ 4000, 3rd
- US$3000, 4th US$ 2000, 5th - US$ 500. The top prizes in the Women's event
are 1st - US$ 3000, 2nd - US$ 2000, 3rd - US$1500, 4th US$ 1000, 5th - US$ 500.
Chess in Angola
Photo report by Sergey Tiviakov
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The Republic of Angola has a total area of 1246 km2 and is divided administratively
into 18 provinces, 163 municipalities and 376 communes. Recent data from the
United Nations estimates the population at around 18 million inhabitants, of
which more than 50% live in major cities.
The official language is Portuguese and the main national languages the Umbundu,
Kimbundu, Kikongo, Tchokwe, and Fiot Cuanhama. Its official currency is the
Kwanza, the currency used for commercial trade.
The name Angola comes from the Bantu word N'gola, the title of the
region's rulers in the XVI century, the same period in which the Portuguese
began colonizing the area. The Portuguese arrived in Congo in 1482, in an expedition
led by Diogo Cão.
Luanda, the capital, as well as main administrative and economic center of
Angola, is one of the oldest cities on the African continent, and the first
to be established by Europeans in Africa, south of the Sahara. It was founded
in 1575 by Paulo Dias de Novais, with the name St. Paul of Loanda (São
Paulo de Loanda) and has an estimated population of five million inhabitants.
As yet, there is no consensus on the origin of its name, attributed by some
to the original inhabitants of Cape Island, the Auxiluanda ('men of
the isle'), and by others to the translation in Kimbundo of the words 'net'
or 'mat' ('luandu') or tribute (as it was on this isle that the shells
(Zimbo) used to pay tribute to the Kingdom of Kongo were gathered).
The opening ceremony with TV and radio
The two strongest players in the event, GM Nigel Short and Sergey Tiviakov
Which is not to say they are the only GMs. To the right is Portuguese GM
Luis Galego
In blue, Portuguese GM Antonio Fernandes awaits the start of the first round
The Women's event with Romanian WGM Alina L'Ami in navy blue
WIM Anzel Solomons in beige
A view from above of the playing hall
Notable players and figures from Angolan chess
The intrepid reporter poses in front of the National Bank
Another view of the bank and its colonial architecture
A colonial house
The arcade promenade vaguely remniscent of Rue de Rivoli
The city of Luanda is still replete with a mixture of colonial buildings,
such as the
headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
... as well as the gradual modernization very much underway.
The number of cranes and construction sites are a sign of the country's
building and
rebuilding effort now that they have experienced years of economic and political
stability.
A view of the fortress of St. Pedro da Barra (1618)
This reconstruction has not been comprehensive and one can see the contrast
of
impoverished habitations with the richer ones,
A sign of the work still ahead
Many streetsellers sell directly to passengers riding a bus and
quickly negotiate price and sale
A young streetseller balancing her wares on her head with an
infant behind her.
WGM Alina L'Ami poses in front of a colonial church
The inside is also typical of the Portuguese colonial style
Another church viewed at night
CUCA is the largest beer manufacturer in Angola and generous
patron of the tournament.
A picture of the CUCA building in Lunada in the late 70s
Another view of Luanda in circa 1977-1979
Sergey Tiviakov and Alina L'Ami enjoying dinner at the hotel's restaurant
WIM Anzel Solomons and her husband CM Deon Solomons
Nigel Short in good spirits with Sergey Tiviakov (in a more guarded mood)
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