MANZINI – Candidate Masters (CM) from Mozambique and Lesotho have dominated Eswatini’s Trojan Horse International Chess Open, winning the top titles in both the Open and Ladies sections.
Mozambique’s CM Napoleao Lourenco emerged as the Open Section’s champion after a near-perfect performance, dropping only half a point across the tournament that ran from Saturday July 25 to Sunday July 26, 2026 in the country’s main city, Manzini.
The decisive moment came in round five when he defeated South Africa’s CM Keith Khumalo, who had led for much of the tournament. He then went for tense final round where he knew he the title would have slipped out though his hands should he blink once. He faced the then runner-up in Lesotho’s Mohammed George who they played a draw with to both finish 5.5 points, but Lourenco won the E6 000 first prize after.
Meanwhile, Khumalo claimed bronze on five points. During the event he faced most of Eswatini’s players, including the then defending champion CM Sikhanyiso Sihlongonyane, who finished seventh and was the only local player to reach the top 10 in a 66-player field.
Meanwhile, a three-way tie on five points for the last podium place was broken in Khumalo’s favour, ahead of Rafael Chirindza and CM Farisse Joao as thr trio tied on five points.
In the Ladies section, Lesotho’s 18-year-old WCM Bonolo Ntsielo claimed the title at The George Hotel; the same venue where she had won the Eswatini International Chess Open in 2024. She conceded only one full point, against Mozambique’s WCM Aridas De Castro in round four. De Castro was relegated from third to fourth by the tie-break system.
On another note, Eswatini’s WCM Sinqobile Dlamini, who is set to represent the country at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, finished second. Although she finished level on five points with Ntsielo, inferior tie-breaks cost her the title after the pair met in round three. Dlamini suffered a defeat. Ntsielo pocketed the E3 000 winner’s cheque, while Dlamini took home E2 000.
Woman FIDE Master Lieketseng Ngatane of Lesotho completed the Ladies podium on four points.
Open Section’s final ranking;
1. CM Napoleao Lourenco [Mozambique] – 5.5 points
2. George Mahommed [Lesotho] – 5.5 points
3. CM Khumalo Keith [South Africa] – 5 points
4. Chirindza Rafael [Mozambique] – 5 points
5. CM Joao Farisse [Mozambique] – 5 points
6. Cossa Remigio [Mozambique] – 4.5 points
7. CM Sihlongonyane Sikhanyiso [Eswatini] – 4 points
8. FM Mhango Banele [South Africa] – 4 points
9. Selepe Lwazi [South Africa] – 4 points
10. Khama Letsatsi [Lesotho] – 4 points
11. Manjate Celso Andre [Mozambique] – 4 points
12. Dlamini Vuyo [Eswatini] – 4 points
13. De Nobrega Santiago [Eswatini] – 4 points
14. CM Karabo Mokete [Lesotho] – 4 points
15. Langa Mario Emerson [Mozambique] – 4 points
16. Carquete Galilei [Mozambique] – 4 points
17. CM Klaas Tokelo [Lesotho] – 4 points
18. CM Hlophe Smilo [Eswatini] – 4 points
19. CM Jamal Hamid [Mozambique] – 4 points
20. CM Tsephe Lebajoa [Lesotho] – 3.5 points
21. Bokang Motsamai [Lesotho] – 3.5 points
22. Ngwenya Kwanele [Eswatini] – 3 points
23. Bhila Eddie [South Africa] – 3 points
24. Mtsetfwa Philani [Eswatini] – 3 points
25. Matsebula Qiniso [Eswatini] – 3 points
26. Simelane Nhlanhla [Eswatini] – 3 points
27. CM Mbongeni Mabuza [Eswatini] – 3 points
28. Masuku Vukani [Eswatini] – 3 points
29. Nkosi Dumisa Jacob [South Africa] – 3 points
30. Dlamini Bandiswa [Eswatini] – 3 points
31. Dlamini Knowledge [Eswatini] – 3 points
32. Cerny Jaroslav [Eswatini] – 3 points
33. Moorosi Thato [Lesotho] – 3 points
34. Modisaotsile Botlhale [South Africa] – 3 points
35. Moyo Ntandoyenkosi [Eswatini] – 3 points
36. Matsebula Fezile [Eswatini] – 3 points
37. Kabongo Brian [Eswatini] – 3 points
38. Ntuli Phiwosethu [Eswatini] – 2.5 points
39. Sibiya Lindokuhle [Eswatini] – 2.5 points
40. Adao Inguane [Eswatini] – 2 points
41. Ngqotheni Bongokuhle [Eswatini] – 2 points
42. Ndlangamandla Sisekelo [Eswatini] – 2 points
43. Hlophe Sengeto [Eswatini] – 2 points
44. Gumedze Sicalo Phathwa [Eswatini] – 2 points
45. Manjate Gil Filipe [Mozambique] – 2 points
46. Shelembe Thubelihle [Eswatini] – 2 points
47. Nhlengetfwa Gcina [Eswatini] – 2 points
48. Mtshali Mfihlakalo [Eswatini] – 2 points
49. Ndlangamandla Sifiso [Eswatini] – 2 points
50. Dlamini Junior [Eswatini] – 1 point
51. Gama Thabani [Eswatini] – 1 point
52. Nxumalo Mncobi [Eswatini] – 1 point
53. Shelembe Landokuhle [Eswatini] – 1 point
54. Shongwe Samkeliso [Eswatini] – 1 point
55. Khumalo S. Seneme [Eswatini] – 0.5 points
56. Maseko Sandile [Eswatini] – 0 points
57. Mwale Tadala [Eswatini] – 0 points
58. Shongwe Senelelwe [Eswatini] – 0 points
59. Sibanyoni Ruphas [South Africa] – 0 points
60. Mamba German [South Africa] – 0 points
61. Simelane Wandile [Eswatini] – 0 points
62. Mariano Antonio [Mozambique] – 0 points
63. Dlamini Sandile [Eswatini] – 0 points
64. Dlamini Bongani [Eswatini] – 0 points
65. Maseko Junior [Eswatini] – 0 points
66. Mncina Mcondzisi [Eswatini] – 0 points
Ladies Section’s final rankings;
1. WCM Ntsielo Bonolo [Lesotho] – 5 points
2. WCM Dlamini Sinqobile [Eswatini] – 5 points
3. WFM Lieketseng Ngatane [Lesotho] – 4 points
4. WCM Castro Aridas [Mozambique] – 4 points
5. Malenda Ana [Mozambique] – 3.5 points
6. Pontso Makhebesela [Lesotho] – 3.5 points
7. Boitumelo Sethabathaba [Lesotho] – 3.5 points
8. Nolwazi Buthelezi [Eswatini] – 3.5 points
9. Ngozo Tivumile [Eswatini] – 3.5 points
10. Nkwanyane Nolwazi [Eswatini] – 3.5 points
11. Patricio Madzima [Mozambique] – 3 points
12. Mnisi, Wenzokuhle [Eswatini] – 3 points
13. Kuhlase Namisa [Eswatini] – 3 points
14. Xaba Wenziwe [Eswatini] – 3 points
15. Maseko Nosisekelo [Eswatini] – 2 points
16. Dlamini Nofefe [Eswatini] – 2 points
17. Nhlabatsi Nosibulelo [Eswatini] – 2 points
18. Nhlabatsi Nomphumelelo [Eswatini] – 2 points
19. Maseko Phiwayinkhosi [Eswatini] – 1 point
20. Ndlovu Sbongokuhle [Eswatini] – 0 points
21. Nxumalo Siphephelo [Eswatini] – 0 points
22. Mkhweli Siphosethu [Eswatini] – 0 points
