1. Introduction
We have arrived safely in Durres, Albania to participate on behalf of South Africa in the World Senior Team Championship. We left SA on Friday and arrived in Albania on Saturday late morning. The team is in board order Dr CM Lyndon Bouah (captain), Dr FM Shabier Bhawoodien, CM Anton Goosen and Andre Schutte.
2. The World Senior Team Championship background
In 2017 Chess South Africa introduced the over fifty section to the SA Closed for the first time. The winners thus far are:
• 2017 – PM Mark Lewis
• 2019 – Advocate CM Maxwell Solomon
• 2022 – PM Mark Lewis
• 2024 – Dr Lyndon Bouah and Dr Shabier Bhawoodien
South Africa has now sent a team four times to the over-50 World Senior Team
Championship. There is also an over 65 section. We have, however, not sent a team to the
over-65 section.
In 2004 the South African team that competed in the Isle of Man from 5-12 October were:
1. Anthon Heyns
2. Eddie Price
3. Peter Hangelbroek
4. Andrew Fereday
5. Anthony Goldstein
1st World Senior Team Chess Championship Isle of Man, 5-12
October 2004
2018 World Senior Team Chess Championships 50 – Germany
Team-Composition with round-results
2020 World Senior Team Chess Championships
FIDE 2024 World Senior Team Chess Championships 50+
So that is the background of South Africa’s participation in this event thus far.
3. History of Albania
A quick cursory glance off the internet at Wikipedia tells us that Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. With an area of 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi), it has a varied range of climatic, geological, hydrological and morphological conditions. Albania’s landscapes range from rugged snow capped mountains in the Albanian Alps and the Korab, Skanderbeg, Pindus and Ceraunian Mountains, to fertile lowland plains extending from the Adriatic and Ionian seacoasts. Tirana is the capital and largest city in the country, followed by Durrës, Vlorë, and Shkodër.
Albania was inhabited by several Illyrian tribes, among them the Ardiaei, Bylliones, Dassaretii, Enchele, and Taulantians, with the Chaonians settled in the southwest. Several colonies were founded by the Ancient Greeks along the Albanian coast, most notably Apollonia. The Illyrians were the dominant power in Albania before the rise of Macedon.[8] Following the Illyrian Wars, Albania was integrated into the Roman Empire and remained in the Byzantine Empire after its partition. During the Middle Ages, several Albanian principalities emerged, most notably the Principality of Arbanon, Kingdom of Albania, Principality of Albania and Albania Veneta. In the 15th century, Albania became a center of resistance against Ottoman expansion under the 10 leadership of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, whose military campaigns repelled Ottoman advances for over two decades. Although incorporated into the Ottoman Empire, Albania retained distinct cultural and social identities throughout four centuries of foreign rule, culminating in the Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century. Albania declared independence in 1912, followed by a turbulent 20th century marked by monarchy, foreign occupation during both World Wars, and a communist regime under Enver Hoxha.
Since its independence in 1912, Albania has undergone a number of political changes, transitioning from a monarchy to a communist regime before becoming a sovereign parliamentary constitutional republic. Governed by a constitution prioritising the separation of powers, the country’s political structure includes a parliament, a ceremonial president, a functional prime minister and a hierarchy of courts. Albania is a developing country with an upper-middle income economy driven by the service sector, with manufacturing and tourism, which attracted over 11 million visitors in 2024, also playing significant roles.[10] After the dissolution of its communist system the country shifted from centralised planning to an open market economy. Albanian citizens have universal health care access and free primary and secondary education. The country is an official candidate for membership in the European Union and has been negotiating accession since 2022.
4. Famous people from Albania
Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu (1910-97) is arguably the most famous Albanian person. She is commonly known as Mother Theresa. Born ethnic Albanian in Skopje, North Macedonia, she moved to Ireland when she was eighteen to join the sisters of Loreto and left a year later for missionary work in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). She devoted her life to helping the poor and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work.
5. Interesting fun facts
There are 175 000, bunkers built during the Communist era.
Albania participated at the Olympic Games in 1972 for the first time. The country made their Winter Olympic Games debut in 2006. Albania missed the next four games, two of them due to the 1980 and 1984 boycotts, but returned for the 1992 games in Barcelona. Since then, Albania have participated in all games. Albania normally competes in events that include swimming, athletics, weightlifting, shooting and wrestling. The country have been represented by the National Olympic Committee of Albania since 1972. The nation has participated at the Mediterranean Games since the games of 1987 in Syria. The Albanian athletes have won a total of 43 (8 gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze) medals from 1987 to 2013.
6. Interesting Facts about Albania and South Africa
Albania and South Africa established diplomatic relations in 1992, with ties currently managed non-residentially by the South African Embassy in Rome. While direct political engagement is limited, connections include emerging tourism interest for South Africans, limited trade relations and historical non-diplomatic ties like the asylum of King Leka Zongu 1 in South Africa.
7. Profile of the players
Three of the players reside in the Western Cape and Anton Goosen is from Pretoria, Gauteng.
8. Results of Round one
South Africa lost to England Two today. We were outrated on all the boards. First to finish was Andre Schutte. He told me afterwards in the room his opponent found some good moves. Andre had the black pieces. Andre was a bit slow in development of his rook. I lost on board one when I was a bit impatient. Once i showed impatience, my opponent started to dominate the position. On board two Shabier’s opponent closed the position on a white side of a king’s Indian Defence. Dr Shabs was forced to sacrifice a knight to open the white king but it did not look positive. On board three Anton Goosen was lost and then went for an attack. His opponent defended against the attack and the game was soon over. It seems only the top twenty boards are being broadcast for some reason. Enjoy the last of the Sunday night Regards.
Dr Lyndon Bouah Reporting live from Durres, Albania