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 and general impressions from Luanda
Photo report by WGM Alina l'Ami and GM Sergey Tiviakov
A view from the hotel: the city of Luanda, with the Atlantic Ocean in the
background
High-rise and traditional side-by-side
Slums, older housing and modern high-rise – "I have never seen
so many cranes –
Luanda is clearly recovering after the war," writes our photographer Alina
l'Ami
Angola, which is one of the world's fastest growing economies, has been undergoing
a massive national reconstruction. The central government allocates funds to
all regions of the country, but the capital region receives the bulk of these
funds. Since the end of the Angolan
Civil War (1975–2002), stability has been widespread in the country,
and major reconstruction has been ongoing since 2002. This includes major road
rehabilitation and major social housing to relocate those who reside in slums.
The Angolan minister of health recently stated poverty in Angola will be overcome
by an increase in jobs and the housing of every citizen.
Population growth of Luanda from 1750–2007
A colonial-style building in the middle of the city
Traffic and housing in Luanda
Street decoration, appartment housing and the ever present advertising for beer
A mural on Luanda's Independence Square
A Funge restaurant, one serving a staple of the Angolan diet
Funge is made from corn meal (funge) or yucca/manioc flour, and accompanies
most meals. The only ingredient you need to make funge is the flour which you
mix in boiling water until you get a consistent paste. It is served with beans
or any fish or meat.
Our roving (and playing) reporters in Luanda, WGM Alina l'Ami and GM Sergey
Tiviakov
GM Alina with a local carrying watcha-may-call-it (including a megaphone in
the large pink thingy)
GMs Tiviakov, l'Ami, Short on an African bus – you gotta get shades, Sergey!
Nigel Short gives a simul on a traffic intersection
Alina likewise...
... and afterwards makes friends (and contact) with the locals
Nigel too has lots of fans and friends in Luanda
Alina at Miradoura de Lua ("Luna landscape"), a canyon 40 km south
of Luanda
Standings in the open section after five rounds
GM Antonio Fernandes, surprise leader ahead of two GMs rated 200+ points
above him
Top seeds Sergey Tiviakov and Nigel Short drew in round four
Women's section
The women's section
Nigel Short checking out the most interesting games in this section
Alina l'Ami and Nelma Lopes, who is on the Angolan Women's Olympiad team
Woman Candidate Master Tshepiso Lopang of Botswana
WFM Boikhutso Mudongo of Botswana
Dusk falls over the city of Luanda
The Atlantic harbour with luxury yachts docked
Nigel, Alina and other players relax on a million-dollar yacht
