The African Youth Chess Championships 2025 will take place from 6 – 14 December 2025 in Harare, Zimbabwe, hosted by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation under the auspices of the African Chess Confederation (ACC).
This continental youth event gathers the brightest chess talents from across Africa for nine days of intense competition, cultural exchange, and title opportunities.

🗓️ Event Details

📂 Sections / Age Categories

• Official players: Highest-rated U18 boy and girl per Zone (based on 1 Sept 2025 rating) + IM/WIM/GM/WGM of each federation.

• Additional players: Unlimited per federation, at own cost (board + lodging + fees).

⏱️ Time Control & Regulations

• Time control: 90 min + 30 s increment from move 1 (all rounds).

• Draw restrictions: No draws by mutual agreement before Black’s 30th move (except stalemate or 3-fold repetition).

• Default time: 30 minutes.

• Tie-breaks: Direct Encounter → Buchholz Cut-1 → Buchholz → Sonneborn-Berger → Average Rating of Opponents.

📅 Schedule

🏆 Prizes & Titles

Awards

• Top 3 players in each age group (Open & Girls): Trophy + Gold, Silver & Bronze medals.

• Winners of each age group (Open & Girls) earn personal rights for the 2026 World Youth & World Cadets Chess Championships.

Titles (per FIDE direct title rules)

Titles awarded only if player scores ≥ 50% and ≥ 5 players from 3 federations participate.

🏨 Accommodation (Full Board per Night, USD)

• Free board & lodging for official players only.

• Payments due by 15 Nov 2025 (proof by 17:00 same day).

• Check-in 6 Dec (Dinner) • Check-out 14 Dec (Breakfast).

• Early arrival / late departure at own cost.

• All payments in USD to Zimbabwe Chess Federation (Stanbic Bank – SWIFT SBICZWHX).

📝 Registration

• Deadline: 1 Nov 2025 (5 pm GMT) via federations only.

• ACC Tournament Fee: $50 per player.

• Registration Fee: $60 for each player, official, and accompanying person.

• Late registration (after 1 Nov but before 15 Nov): penalty $500 per person.

• Free transfers between Robert Mugabe International Airport and hotels on 6 & 14 Dec.

• Proof of payment and passport copy to aycc2025@zcf.org.zw

👥 Organizer

Zimbabwe Chess Federation (Host)
Under auspices of African Chess Confederation (ACC)

Main Contacts:

• Convener/Organizer: Todd Mapingire 📧 zcfpresident@gmail.com

• ACC Representative: Shaun Levitan 📧 president@jhbmetrochess.co.za

• Tournament Director: Agab Dozva 📧 AyccTD@zcf.org.zw 📞 +263 775 627 049

• Coordinator: Elisha Thabo 📧 AyccTC@zcf.org.zw

• Accommodation: Kudakwashe Sibanda 📧 accommodation@zcf.org.zw 📞 +263 775 706 926

• Admin Officer: Nomsa Gaihai 📧 aycc2025@zcf.org.zw 📞 +263 787 629 666

🚗 How to Get There

• Airport: Robert Mugabe International Airport (HRE).

• Transfers: Provided free on official arrival (6 Dec) and departure (14 Dec).

• Health Requirements: Yellow fever vaccination required if arriving from affected countries.

• Weather: Warm with occasional rain in December; bottled water available throughout.

🛎️ Accommodation & Meals

• Full board (meals included – breakfast, lunch, dinner).

• Single rooms limited; first-come, first-served.

• First meal: Dinner on 6 Dec; last meal: Breakfast on 14 Dec.

👔 Dress Code

• Smart casual; no slippers, caps, sunglasses, or revealing clothing in the playing area.

Other

• Rest Day Blitz Tournament: 9 Dec 2025 – 9 round Swiss; entry $10. Prizes for Top 3 (Open & Girls).

• Rest Day Tour: Cultural and sightseeing options available afternoon 9 Dec (at additional cost).

• Appeals Committee: 3 members + 2 reserves; appeal deposit $100 (refundable if successful).

• No refunds for non-attendance after payment.

• Currency in use: USD only.

• WhatsApp Group: Join for updates (link on official site).

• Late payment or missing proof of payment = no participation.

Celebrate the spirit of youth chess and African unity in the capital of Zimbabwe —
the African Youth Chess Championships 2025 in Harare promise inspiring games, new friendships, and the champions of tomorrow! ♟️