Rwanda has moved one place up to 160th in the latest world rankings released by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) earlier this week. 

Countries are ranked according to the average rating of their top 10 active rated players. Rwanda has benefitted from a reasonably impressive performance by Alexis Ruzigura, Rwanda’s only participant in last month’s African Individual Chess Championship in Egypt.

At the continental tournament, the Eagles Chess Club (EEC) player managed to add coveted Rapid and Blitz chess ratings to his Standard rating which also improved from 1754 to 1763.   The Candidate Master (CM) who is the only Rwandan rated in the three categories, now has 1809 rating in Rapid chess and 1752 in Blitz chess.

Rwanda is now two ranks better than Burundi in 162nd and five places better than Tanzania who sit in 165th with both neighbours maintaining their previous positions. Regional power houses Uganda and Kenya slipped to 99th and 121st respectively.

Last month, Uganda was 95th while Kenya was 120th in the world ranking. In the continental Zone 4.2 chess grouping, where Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania belong, Egypt leads at number 49th and is the only African country ranked in the world’s top 70.

Rwanda has 15 rated players including those who are inactive such as Eagles Chess Club’s Fidèle Mutabazi (2089), Rwanda’s most rated player.

Globally, Russia, China, Ukraine, United States of America, France, India and Hungary continue to dominate, in that order.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw