Acheampong Dave Quansah Chief of Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, Legon, has once again emerged as the standout performer at the African Genius Chess Championship, winning the Under-20 category at the second edition of the tournament held at Ghud Park, Accra Mall, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The competition, organised by Imagination Africa and Mentors Chess Academy, brought together about 200 young chess players alongside parents, guardians and coaches, with the aim of promoting intellectual development, inclusion and equal opportunities for children from different socio-economic backgrounds. Mr Chief, who was the standout performer at the first edition, clinched the top prize in the Under-20 category, while Gyepi-Garbrah Emmanuel Kelvin of Ghana Telecom University finished second and Richard Nii Anang of the University of Ghana placed third.
In the Under-8 category, Nyameba Nana Osei Osei-Manu of Harvest Christian Academy emerged first, with Kunt Hikmet Kaan of Al-Rayan International School second and Mitchell Baksmaty of International Community School third, while Ohene Nunna was adjudged Best Girl. The Under-10 category was won by Matey Dromi Lorm of North Hills International School, with his schoolmate Matey Jormi Lorlor second and Ajeigbe Andre-Benjamin of Lycée Français International Jacques Prévert d'Accra third, while Kaia Donkor of Lycée Français d'Accra was the Best Girl.
In the Under-12 category, Acheampong Jeddiah Nana Osei of Englebert took first place, followed by Krithik Raj Medisetti Mahi of East Airport International School in second and Oke Jaden of Al-Rayan International School in third, with Krystelle Owusu of Lycée Français d'Accra named Best Girl. Pradeep Harshan of Healthy Mind won the Under-14 category, ahead of Essel Jadon of Brain Hill International School and Joy Van-Eijk, who placed second and third respectively, while Abigail Chine Tsyokpo was the Best Girl.
The Under-16 category was won by Siddharth Gupta of DPS, with El Assaad Essam of Al-Rayan International School second and Agamaku Caleb Kuame of Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, Legon, third, while Safwan Larine of Al-Rayan International School was the Best Girl. In the Under-18 category, David Yoel Varela Sanchez of Goethe-Institut Ghana emerged first, with Pryce-Tandoh Jeshurun Obiri Yeboah of University of Ghana Basic School second and De-Souza Nathan third, while Zuttah Euodia of the University of Ghana, Legon, was named Best Girl.
The winners received prizes including laptops, printers, irons and vouchers provided by CanWest Ltd, while Dext Technology supplied science sets and Twisco supported the event with products for participants, who also received certificates alongside trophies and medals.
Mariam Mahamah, co-founder of Imagination Africa, said the organisation was looking forward to the championship becoming a household event that everyone looks forward to, where participants know the number of competitions happening in a given year and aim to win first or second place. She said the initiative wanted the event to be something everyone enjoys and looks forward to.
The championship builds on the success of its maiden edition in 2024, which attracted more than 150 young players from over 15 schools across Ghana. The initiative continues to use chess as a platform to nurture critical thinking, concentration and problem-solving skills among young people while expanding access to the game across different backgrounds.
David Acheampong, founder of Mentors Chess Academy, said chess was one sport that cuts across almost every other facet of life, noting that young people who had been worked with over the years had shown great improvement in their education, mathematics and arithmetic, as well as in how they analyse issues and solve problems. He said the game was the way to go if the country really wanted to develop.
Full list of winners;
Under-8
1st: Nyameba Nana Osei Osei-Manu (Harvest Christian Academy)
2nd: Kunt Hikmet Kaan (Al-Rayan International School)
3rd: Mitchell Baksmaty (International Community School)
Best Girl: Ohene Nunna
Under-10
1st: Matey Dromi Lorm (North Hills International School)
2nd: Matey Jormi Lorlor (North Hills International School)
3rd: Ajeigbe Andre-Benjamin (Lycée Français International Jacques Prévert d'Accra)
Best Girl: Kaia Donkor (Lycée Français d'Accra)
Under-12
1st: Acheampong Jeddiah Nana Osei (Englebert)
2nd: Krithik Raj Medisetti Mahi (East Airport International School)
3rd: Oke Jaden (Al-Rayan International School)
Best Girl: Krystelle Owusu (Lycée Français d'Accra)
Under-14
1st: Pradeep Harshan (Healthy Mind)
2nd: Essel Jadon (Brain Hill International School)
3rd: Joy Van-Eijk (Solo)
Best Girl: Abigail Chine Tsyokpo
Under-16
1st: Siddharth Gupta (DPS)
2nd: El Assaad Essam (Al-Rayan International School)
3rd: Agamaku Caleb Kuame (Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, Legon)
Best Girl: Safwan Larine (Al-Rayan International School)
Under-18
1st: David Yoel Varela Sanchez (Goethe-Institut Ghana)
2nd: Pryce-Tandoh Jeshurun Obiri Yeboah (University of Ghana Basic School)
3rd: De-Souza Nathan
Best Girl: Zuttah Euodia (University of Ghana, Legon)
Under-20
1st: Acheampong Dave Quansah Chief (Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, Legon)
2nd: Gyepi-Garbrah Emmanuel Kelvin (GTUC)
3rd: Anang Richard (University of Ghana, Legon)
