9th International Francophone Chess Meeting (RIDEF 2023)

Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire | 1–13 July 2023

The 9th edition of the International Francophone Chess Meeting (RIDEF) took place in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, from 1 to 13 July 2023. The tournament brought together players from across the French-speaking world and marked the first time the event was hosted in sub-Saharan Africa.

Competitions were held at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research and welcomed players representing 17 countries.

Tournament Overview

RIDEF is the flagship annual event of the International Association of Francophone Chess (AIDEF). Each edition combines competitive chess with educational activities, meetings between federations, and initiatives aimed at developing chess within Francophone countries.

The 2023 tournament featured:

  • 76 participants
  • 17 represented countries
  • €17,000 prize fund
  • 9-round classical tournament
  • Rapid and blitz championships
  • FIDE-rated competitions

Several games from the leading boards were broadcast online throughout the event.

Open Tournament Results

International Master Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux of Canada finished first in the main tournament with 7.5 points from 9 rounds. He secured the title after winning the direct encounter against Grandmaster Bator Sambuev, who finished with the same score.

The final standings of the open event were:

  1. Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux (Canada) – 7.5/9
  2. Bator Sambuev (Canada) – 7.5/9
  3. Olivier-Kenta Chiku-Ratté (Canada) – 6.5/9

Additional Champions

Women’s Champion: Maili-Jade Ouellet (Canada)

Senior Champion: IM Damir Levacic (Monaco)

Veteran Champion: Mohamed Lameti (Morocco)

Rapid Champion: IM Loïc Travadon (France)

Blitz Champion: GM Victor Bologan (Moldova)

A Decisive Encounter

One of the key moments of the tournament occurred during round seven, when Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux faced Bator Sambuev. The result of this game ultimately proved decisive in determining the overall winner of the championship.

The encounter became one of the most discussed games of the event and played a major role in the final standings.

International Participation

Players from Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East took part in the tournament. Among the represented nations were Canada, France, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Tunisia, Monaco, Lebanon, Senegal, Moldova, and several other members of the Francophone community.

The event provided an opportunity for players of different ages and title levels to compete in a common international environment.

Educational and Cultural Activities

Alongside the main competition, several chess development activities were organised throughout the event.

International Arbiter Laurent Freyd conducted a training course for arbiters in Abidjan prior to the tournament. The programme formed part of a FIDE-supported initiative aimed at strengthening officiating standards in the region.

FIDE Executive Director and Grandmaster Victor Bologan led a chess masterclass for local students and participants, sharing practical lessons and analysis sessions during the competition.

A delegation from the tournament also met with local authorities in Yamoussoukro to discuss future chess development projects and educational initiatives.

Previous Editions

The tournament has previously been hosted in:

  • Marrakech, Morocco (2013)
  • Beirut, Lebanon (2014)
  • Montreal, Canada (2015)
  • Menton, France (2016)
  • Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia (2017)
  • Tirana, Albania (2018)
  • Paris, France (2019)
  • Casablanca, Morocco (2022)
  • Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire (2023)

Looking Ahead

During the closing ceremony, organisers announced that the next edition of RIDEF would take place in Québec City, Canada, in 2024. The event was scheduled to coincide with celebrations marking the centenary of FIDE and would return the tournament to Canada for the second time in its history.

For tournament results, photographs, and official information, visitors can browse the archived materials available on this website.