Chess and general impressions from Luanda

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

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

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

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

• Our previous ChessBase report on the CUCA International
• All available games in PGN (will be upgraded as the carrier pigeons come in)