"VAN" (Sports Desk - 10.07.2026) :: Day three of the African Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 brought rounds five and six to the Coetzenburg Center, pushing the tournament into its decisive phase.
With only two rounds remaining after today’s play, every match carried greater weight. The leading teams were looking to protect their positions, while those close behind still had an opportunity to join the race for the title and qualification places.
The championship’s wide-ranging programme reflects the support behind it. Freedom Holding Corp., the main sponsor of the African Continental Stage and General Partner of the International School Chess Federation, has helped create a week that combines serious competition with education, personal development, and opportunities for young players to connect beyond the board.
Rounds 5 and 6
Round 5 narrowed the race at the top, with Kenya and Uganda both securing important victories. Kenya’s Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School produced the strongest result among the leading teams, defeating Madagascar’s Lycée Privé Hibiscus by 3½-½.
Uganda’s Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School also kept pace with a 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe’s Budiriro 4 Primary School. With Kenya and Uganda both moving to nine match points, the afternoon round was set to play a major role in potentially separating the leaders.
In Round 6, Angola’s Instituto Industrial held Uganda to a 2-2 draw, and the shock of the day came on board one, where unrated Melquesideque Paulo defeated Ronald Wabwire, the highest-rated player in the field. Manuel Carlosadded a second Angolan win against 1727-rated Trevor Tumukunde before Daniel Odokonyero and WCM Juliet Asaba rescued the match point for the top seeds.
Kenya fared no better: Welgemoed’s AFM Wolf van der Merwe beat Davidson Waweru on board one, and though Trevor Waweru and Irwin Ndegwa kept up their form in the middle, both winning their games, Adiaan Vlok leveled the match at 2-2 on board four.
Heading into the final day, Uganda and Kenya share the lead on 10 match points, with five teams closely behind them: Madagascar, Angola, Welgemoed, Holy Cross, and Namibia, all on eight. With two rounds to play, nothing is settled.
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