About the Africa Chess League
One Continent. One League. One Board.
Africa has no shortage of chess talent. What it has lacked is a stage big enough to bring that talent together.
The Africa Chess League is built to change that.
We are creating a continental club championship where chess clubs from across Africa can compete against one another, represent their cities and countries, and fight for the title of Africa’s best chess club.
No borders. No long-distance travel. No expensive venues. Just clubs, players, competition — and the board.
A new era for African club chess
For too long, competitive club chess has largely remained local. Great players can be separated by thousands of kilometres, with few opportunities to compete for something that represents the continent as a whole.
The ACL removes that barrier.
Through online competition, a club in Zimbabwe can face a club in Nigeria. A team from Kenya can challenge a team from Ghana. Players who may never have had the opportunity to meet over a physical board can compete in the same continental championship.
Every match matters. Every point counts. Every club has a chance to make history.
More than a tournament
The Africa Chess League is designed to become a home for African club chess.
It is about giving clubs something to build around — a team identity, a competitive season, rivalries, rankings and a reason for players to represent something bigger than themselves.
For players, it is an opportunity to compete beyond their local chess scene. For clubs, it is an opportunity to put their name on a continental stage. And for African chess, it is an opportunity to create a competition that belongs to the continent.
Built for clubs. Powered by players.
Clubs enter the league with a squad and compete throughout the season. Players represent their clubs in official fixtures, earning points that contribute to their team’s position in the league table.
There are no invitation-only super clubs and no requirement to travel across borders. If your club can build a squad, you can compete.
The league is open to ambitious clubs and players who want to test themselves against the best teams Africa has to offer.
Why online?
Africa is enormous. Travel is expensive. Visas, accommodation and venues can turn a single fixture into a major logistical challenge.
The ACL was designed around a simple idea: distance should not decide who gets to compete.
Official fixtures are played online through Lichess, allowing clubs from different countries to meet without leaving home. Lichess provides a trusted playing environment where games are recorded publicly and results can be independently verified.
That means the competition can remain accessible, transparent and scalable — while the chess remains the centre of attention.
Who is behind it
The Africa Chess League was founded and built in 2026 by Knowledge Mhodi, a Zimbabwe‑based African developer and tech entrepreneur.
It started from one observation: African players are online every night, playing games that count for nothing. The clubs exist, the players exist — what was missing was the competition around them.
The league is run by volunteers, and nobody draws a salary from it.
The road ahead
The Africa Chess League is starting with a simple goal: bring African clubs together. But the ambition goes much further.
We want to build rivalries that last for seasons. Discover new talent. Give clubs continental recognition. Create memorable championship moments. And ultimately establish a competition that African chess players can look forward to every year.
This is not just another online tournament. It is the beginning of a continental club championship.
Ready to represent your club?
Whether you’re a club looking for its next challenge or a player ready to compete on a bigger stage, the Africa Chess League is your opportunity to be part of what comes next.
One continent. One league. One board. Welcome to the Africa Chess League.