The 22nd International Awale Tournament (IAT) was hosted at the 33rd International Games Festival, at the Palais des Festival in Cannes (South of France). The Festival took place from Friday 22nd of February to Sunday 24th February 2019, with the championship taking place on Saturday 23rd of February 2018. This competition was well attended by international players, and for the first time hosted a contingent from Kyrgyzstan.
The tournament was competed over 7 rounds and was keenly fought with the Kygyz players looking to topple the past dominance of the Kazakh players. At the end of the seven rounds the Kazakh players remained supreme in the Senior / Masters players category, taking the Gold and silver positions. The old stalwart a veteran of this tournament from 1999 Xavier Blanvillian of France pipped the Krygyz players to take the bronze position, with the Krygyz players taking Anarbek Dzamakeev and Kamchybek Kaymov taking 4th and 5th respectively.
Other stalwarts of this tournament Jean Retschitzki of Switzerland (1999 veteran) and Ainur Zhakapbayeva of Kazakhstan (2010 veteran) came in 6th and 7th place respectively. Nathan Bonti-Asamoah a junior in is first major Awale tournament took 8th position.
