By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
The Cameroon Chess Federation (FECADE) brought the 2026 National Individual Open Mixed Championship to a successful close on Sunday, October 11, following nine demanding rounds played under the Swiss system. The competition brought together about 40 players, including men, women, juniors, young talents and veterans, in an intense battle of calculation and strategy. The tournament once again highlighted the growing depth of chess in Cameroon, with a new generation increasingly challenging the established names.
Noumbo Vidal of Douala Chess Academy emerged as the overall champion after an impressive campaign that earned him eight points. He finished ahead of Donkeng Hussel of Yaounde Chess Club, who also collected eight points but lost out on the direct tiebreak. Sogboa Hamat, also of Yaounde Chess Club, completed the podium with 6.5 points. The rest of the top 10 featured Tchouli Djouanang Frederic Marcel, CM Pierre Makem, Tekam Kuteng Herwin Divinio, IM Amba Oyon Marius Claude, Youmbi Siguem Samuel Israel, FM Ebosse Kingue Victor Patrick and Enoa Assamba Ismael.
The championship also underlined the strength of Cameroon’s leading chess clubs. Douala Chess Academy produced the overall winner, while Yaounde Chess Club showed remarkable depth by placing several players among the leading finishers. Biyem Assi Chess Club, Face à Face Chess Club, Spiral Chess Club and Palmiel Chess Club and Academy were also actively represented. Among the standout performers was WCM Sylviane Magne Kouokam of Biyem Assi, who finished among the elite of the mixed competition and was crowned Cameroon’s women’s champion.
Kouokam’s victory was particularly significant given the level of opposition she faced. Fresh from international competition, she demonstrated composure and resilience against some of the country’s strongest players, saying the experience of facing higher-level opponents had pushed her to work harder and analyse games more deeply. Beyond her title, however, the champion used the occasion to call for greater participation of women and girls in chess, insisting that the game is not reserved for men or a particular social group. She encouraged young girls, students and women to join chess clubs across the country and use the sport as a tool for personal development and empowerment.
Experience also had its moment through FECADE Secretary General CM Pierre Makem, who finished fifth overall with six points and claimed the Best Veteran award. Makem described the tournament as a major organisational success and praised the growing competition between Cameroon’s experienced players and ambitious youngsters. Reflecting on Cameroon’s recent participation at the Chess Olympiad, he acknowledged the enormous level of international competition and the psychological demands involved, but said the experience would provide valuable lessons as FECADE develops stronger strategies for future international events.
With the national individual championship successfully concluded, FECADE is already looking ahead. The federation is preparing for the National Team Championship expected within the coming weeks, while continuing efforts to strengthen its national Elo database and support clubs involved in player development. The federation also honoured regional chess figures and champions during the closing ceremony, reinforcing the importance of grassroots development. For Kouokam, the next challenge is already clear: she wants to lead Biyem Assi Chess Club to victory in the upcoming team competition. The 2026 championship has therefore offered more than national titles—it has provided another clear indication that Cameroon’s chess movement is growing, with youth, experience and an increasingly confident women’s game shaping its future.
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