Louis, Shah crowned 2025 national chess champions

DAR ES SALAAM: THE 2025 Tanzania National Chess Championship concluded in a thrilling fashion at the Russian Cultural Centre in Dar es Salaam, marking the end of several days of intense and strategic competition.

The prestigious tournament attracted the crème de la crème of Tanzanian chess talent, culminating in Kara Louis and Mahi Shah being crowned the new national champions in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.

In the men’s division, Kara Louis delivered a commanding performance, securing the national title with 7.5 points, narrowly edging out Misamba Kilasa who finished second with seven points, while Lusako Shedrack claimed third place with 6.5 points.

Meanwhile, the women’s category witnessed a masterclass by Mahi Shah, who swept through the tournament with a perfect nine out of nine — an undefeated run that left no doubt about her dominance on the board. Lissa Siya followed closely with 8 points and Anahi Shah took third place with 6.5 points.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Nurdin Hassuji, Secretary-General of the Tanzania Chess Association (TACA), commended the quality of play and organisation of the event.

“We thank God the tournament concluded smoothly. We now have our national champions for 2025. The level of competition was very high and this gives us confidence as we look toward developing the sport further across the country,” he said.

Hassuji noted that while chess has seen steady growth, it remains highly concentrated in urban areas, particularly Dar es Salaam.

“Our next big step is regional development. We want to see chess thriving in every corner of Tanzania. TACA is committed to supporting local efforts by providing equipment and seeking sponsorships to make grassroots tournaments a reality,” he added.

For Kara Louis, the national title was the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance.

“I’ve been chasing this title for a long time,” he said. “I didn’t succeed in my previous attempts, but I never gave up. I kept practicing, stayed focused and finally, I’ve achieved my goal. This victory means everything to me.”

In the women’s division, Mahi Shah was all smiles as she reflected on her flawless performance.

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“Winning this championship means a lot to me,” she shared. “Chess is such a beautiful and mentally stimulating game. I hope my success inspires more women and girls to take up the sport and explore their potential.”

With the 2025 national champions now crowned, all eyes turn to the future. TACA’s roadmap includes regional outreach, youth engagement and elevating Tanzania’s profile on the continental chess scene.