Bassem Amin is a Chess Grandmaster from Egypt with Elo ratings exceeding 2500 from FIDE, making him one of the best Egyptian chess players of all time.
Full Name: Bassem Amin
Title: Grandmaster – Achieved in 2006
International Master – Achieved in 2004
FIDE Master – Achieved in 1999
Place of birth: Tanta, Egypt
Born: September 9, 1988
Federation: Egypt
Ratings
World ranking: 54
Rapid: 2567
Blitz: 2699
Classical: 2685
Peak rating: 2712 – Reached in January, 2019
Profiles
Most Frequently Played Openings
With The White Pieces
- King’s Indian Attack
- Sicilian Defense
- Reti System
With The Black Pieces
- Ruy Lopez
- Queen’s Pawn Game
- Dutch Defense
Biography
Bassem Amin is an Egyptian chess Grandmaster born on September 9, 1988, in Tanta, Egypt. Amin was awarded the title of Grandmaster in 2006, the International Master title in 2004, and the FIDE Master title in 1999. As of November 2022, his FIDE rating was 2685, while his Peak rating was 2712 as of January 2019. Amin is the most highly rated Egyptian and African player, besides being the only medical doctor with a FIDE peak rating of 2700 or higher.
The Beginning
Amin has been a member of the Egyptian League since 2001 and the Arab League in 2004, 2006, and 2010. In addition to the Icelandic League in 2008 and 2013, Amin competed in the French Top 12 League in 2014, the French Coupe de France – Finale in 2014, and the Spanish CECLUB League in 2014.
Amin was the Arab Youth Winner one time in the Under-10 section, once in the Under-12 section, and two times in the Under-14 section ahead of schedule in his chess professional life. In 2004, Amin finished fourth in Greece’s World Youth Chess Championship Under-16. Amin won the 2005 African Junior Chess Tournament shortly after, advancing him to compete in the 2005 World Junior Chess Tournament.
At the 2005 Arab Chess Tournament, Amin won his first Arab Chess Tournament while earning his first grandmaster norm. That year, Amin won the African championship and came third in the Under-18 World Youth Chess Championship.
In 2008, Amin competed on the fourth board for the UAE’s Al-Ain Chess Club “B” club in the first-ever Asian Club Cup, which was held in Cape Town, South Africa. At the debut African Club Tournament in 2010, Amin competed on the top board for the Egyptian team El-Dakhlia, guiding them to gold and winning individual silver. In the European Club Cup, Amin competed on the top board for the French team CE de Bois Colombes in 2014. At the 41st World Chess Olympiad, Amin scored 8.5 points out of 11 on the first Board, contributing significantly to the Egyptian National Chess Team’s highest performance in Egyptian chess history and a Gold Medal in Group B. In 2015, in Cairo, Amin became African Chess Champion.
Notable Achievements
Amin became Arab Champion Under-20 three times; in 2005, he also earned his second GM norm in July 2006 and
August 2007. In 2005 while playing in Botswana, Amin won the African Under-20 Championship, earning his 3rd GM norm.
Amin emerged as the World Youth Under 18 Bronze Medalist in Georgia in 2006.
Amin was the 2006 Arab Men’s Champion held in the United Arab Emirates With a performance rating of 2747, Amin tied for first place with Ashot Anastasian in the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival in 2007.
Amin was a Bronze medalist at the 2008 World Juniors in Turkey. Upon competing in Libya, Amin was crowned African Chess Champion in 2009.
Amin competed in the 2009 Chess World Cup but was eliminated in the first round by Vladimir Malakhov.
Notable Games
Bassem Amin vs Ghuloom Salem – Ramadan Master Open, Round 1 – Abu Dhabi, UAE – August 12, 2010
Bassem Amin vs Alexander Scetinin – MTO, Round 10 – Biel, Switzerland – August 02, 2001
Bassem Amin vs Magnus Carlsen – Grand Chess Tour Cote d’Ivoire (Rapid & Blitz), Round 1 – Abidjan, Ivory Coast – May 11, 2019
Did you enjoy reading about Bassem Amin? If you did, you might be interesting in reading other player profiles such as Hans Niemann, Bobby Fischer, and Rey Enigma.
Sources
- https://www.fide.com/news/2009
- https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic667.html#13
- https://web.archive.org/web/20111020184547/http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/events/world-cup-2009
- http://www.reykjavikopen.com/round-10-a-three-move-draw-and-a-three-way-tie/
- https://chessdailynews.com/gm-bassem-amin-wins-mediterranean-chess-championship/
- http://africa-chess.org/news/african-news/73-2015-african-individual-chess-championships.html