8/14/2018 – Photojournalist and IM ALINA l'AMI continues her reflection (see Part 1) on the Ivory Coast Rapid & Blitz Invitational, with gorgeous photos and a unique story recounting what the tournament winner, Bassem Amin, calls "the best tournament in Africa". | All photos: Alina l'Ami

8/10/2018 – The Egyptian GM Bassem Amin won the Invitational Rapid & Blitz event held in Abidjan, July 24th to 30th. We previously reported on the results but now give it the ALINA l'AMI treatment. | Pictured: From left to right: (top row) GM Bassem Amin (EGY), GM Kenny Solomon (RSA), IM Mokliss El Adnani (MAR), IM Andrew Kayonde (ZAM), IM Fy Rakotomaharo (MAD), (bottom row) IM Arthur Ssegwanyi (UGA), GM Slim Belkhodja (TUN), IM David Silva (ANG), GM Mohamed Haddouche (ALG), IM Oladapo Adu (NGR) | All Photos: Alina l'Ami

7/28/2018 – A good final day performance gave rating favourite Bassem Amin the first place at the rapid portion of the Cote d'Ivoire Invitational. The rapid results are added to the scores in the eighteen rounds of blitz that will be played during the weekend, so everything is still up for grabs in Abidjan. Alina l'Ami has travelled to Ivory Coast and sent pictures and video interviews with the participants | Pictured: Dr. Essoh Essis, President of the Ivorian Chess Federation makes the first move in Amin-Belkhodja | Photos: Alina l'Ami

4/12/2018 – American Hikaru Nakamura, one of the world’s top chess Grandmasters, has shown his generosity by honouring a pledge he made earlier this year to assist two promising junior players from South Africa to further their chess careers. Hikaru identified the two young talents during his visit to South Africa in January while he was attending the South African Junior Chess Championships. Khanya Mazibuko (pictured), one of the selected players, was able to secure a win against his idol during the 100 player Simul in Johannesburg. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

1/14/2015 – Kenny Solomon, South Africa's first Grandmaster, was born in 1979. At that time Apartheid still enforced racial segregation in South Africa. This also affected the life of Solomon. He grew up in Mitchell Plains, a densely populated township near Cape Town, plagued by poverty, violence and crime. Chess helped Solomon to discover new worlds.