The new Nakuru Chess Club signing is confident of attaining the International Master title after qualifying for the World Chess Olympiad championships in Russia.
While her first name may reflect noble human qualities (helper of mankind), when it comes to playing chess, Woman Fide Master (WFM) Sasha Mongeli leave those attributes, especially the "kind one”, at the doorstep.
"On the chessboard, I think I'm mean," she said with a smile in an interview with Standard Sports.
"I'm a competitive person. It feels good to win, which means I need to be tough on the chessboard. If you're playing chess and want to win, then you've got to be mean."
Even French sculptor and chess player Marcel Duchamp described chess as "the movement of pieces eating one another."
Mongeli, 24, has what it takes to be a modern chess master and with just a three year-year experience on the board, she continues to amuse the world of chess.
She is two categories away from being rated an expert, also known as the Grand Master.
As with any epic tale, one must start from humble beginnings and with Mongeli, it was no different.
During her childhood years at Reuben Primary School, in Nairobi and her teenage years at Starehe Girls High School, Mongeli played football and table tennis.
“While growing up, I played football and table tennis. I was not into board games and could not picture myself playing chess or scrabble,” she said.
However, after joining Technical University of Kenya (TUK) in 2015, she had a change of heart.
“Life at the university was different. There was no table tennis, which sent me to an adventure. Unknowingly, I came across chess and I decided to give it a try, just for fun,” she said.
As expected, the journey to stardom had not been easy.
“Life as a beginner was quite tough because most players did not like playing with beginners and being a lady, getting a chance to play was close to impossible," said Mongeli.
Determined and focused to excel as a Mathematics student and in chess, Mongeli met Equity Bank Chess Club player and coach Moses Andiwoh, a meeting that would changer her life in the game forever.
“Our then chess captain Moses Masese spoke to a chess coach Moses Andiwoh, who used to come to TUK to play and asked him to tutor me. Meeting him was the beginning of my rise in chess,"she said.
Mongeli was drafted in TUK’s first team that competed in the Kenya Premier Chess League in 2017, where she won her first match against Ann Kungu.
“It felt good to win and I was delighted when I defeated other people," she said. “The exposure and yearning for victory made me want more and more.”
Mongeli said 2018 was the highlight of her career having made huge strides in the world of chess.
She was drafted in the national chess team after qualifying to represent Kenya in the 43rd World Chess Olympiad games held in Batumi, Georgia.
The then 21-year-old student at Technical University of Kenya attained the higher Women Fide Master (WFM) title during the Olympiad held between September 28 and October 6.
It was her debut at the biennial event and she achieved the feat with two rounds to score.
Her score of eight wins out of nine games was one of the best in the Olympiads and the highest percentage score by a Kenyan in the Olympiad’s history.
“Getting the opportunity to represent my country at the highest level of chess in the World was a privilege to me. To return home as one of the highest-ranked ladies in chess was unbelievable.”
Mongeli also became the first player to win the StarTimes/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month for October 2018 after beating Equity Hawks player Belinda Okoth, tennis sensation Angela Okuyoti and Abraham Kiptum to the accolade.
“Sasha exhibits a kind of determination I have not seen in many players. Climbing to the highest ranks of chess in a period of less than three years is quite remarkable. She is certainly on her way to scaling greater heights,” TUK captain Frank Michuki said.
Having switched from TUK to Nakuru Chess Club, Mongeli is confident of excelling at her new club.
