Rwanda’s global rating remained fixed at 162nd for the month of November, according to the World Chess Federation (FIDE) ratings released on Thursday. The country was at the same position in October and a place lower for the month of September—countries are ranked according to the average rating of their top 10 rated active players. Rwanda’s apparent stagnation is because it has not organized any rated tournaments in the past few months. Moreover, no local unrated players competed in rated tournaments out of the country in the same period but things could change given the upcoming local and regional rated tournaments where Rwandans are set to participate. Meanwhile, Rwanda which has 15 rated players is currently 30th on the continent with neighbors, Uganda ninth on the continent and 102nd globally while Kenya is 15th and 120th respectively. Other East African Community (EAC) members, Burundi and Tanzania, are ranked 31st and 33rd on the continent, and 163rd and 165th globally respectively. In the continental Zone 4.2 chess grouping, where all five EAC countries belong, Egypt continues to lead after moving one step up to 46th globally and followed by Algeria (70) and Africa’s new number three, Tunisia (75), after Morocco slumped to fourth place (78).
