After a string of top class performances on the international scene, Rwanda’s Godfrey Kabera has broken into the world’s elite chess group (masters).

Kabera, Rwanda’s most outstanding player in last year’s Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany is now a Candidate Master (CM) according to the latest World Chess governing body (FIDE) ratings.

The Candidate Master (CM) title is awarded by FIDE after a series of consistent performances on the international scene and it ranks below the titles of FIDE Master, International Master and International Grandmaster.

Kabera believes that this milestone will motivate his colleagues to surpass this feat.

"It’s a great achievement for me and for Rwandan chess as well. But more importantly, it’s a signal that we can even achieve greater things,” Kabera who also doubles as the new president of the local chess federation (Ferwade) said.

Kabera is now three levels away from the Grand Master status; the most coveted title in World Chess.

Kabera who has been playing competitive international chess since 2006 is currently rated 1949. He has also played 19 competitive games on the international scene.

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