A Green Country — Africa in Miniature

Sergey Karjakin, President of the Moscow Region Chess Federation, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Benjamin Didier Banlock, President of the Cameroon Chess Federation

On May 16, the bright final of the 2025/26 University League season took place at the Russian Presidential Academy . Among the distinguished guests was Benjamin Banlock, the newly elected President of the Cameroon Chess Federation. As part of the event, he met with Russian Senator and President of the Moscow Region Chess Federation Sergey Karjakin. The two leaders discussed future prospects for collaborations and formally solidified their partnerships by signing a Memorandum.

In his closing address to the University League participants, Benjamin Banlock emphasized the importance of the agreement for the development of chess in Cameroon. He also mentioned about plans to host a major international chess tournament in his home country, noting that players from the Moscow Region would certainly be invited. In a light-hearted tone, he expressed hope that, through these productive joint efforts, Cameroon might have its own multiple-time world champion in about 200 years.

The President of the Moscow Region Chess Federation praised his counterpart, noting that with such a strong and proactive leader, he is confident chess in Cameroon will experience a rapid rise. Together with the team, he assured that they stand ready to support their Cameroonian colleagues in implementing these ambitious plans. More details regarding Benjamin Banlock’s upcoming initiatives will soon be revealed in an exclusive interview with the federation’s media team.

The Memorandum was signed with the support of the «African Initiative», marking the beginning of fruitful cooperation between the federations.
 
Photos by Elena Torbina and the RANEPA press service