Derwin Atella in action during the MA Junior Chess tournament. [Washington Onyango, Standard]
Derwin Atella is the 2021 MA Junior Chess tournament champion.
Atella, a Grade One pupil at MA Junior School defeated a huge field of junior chess master to emerge top.
Billy Bisky, Shelloh Chantelle and Alisson Achieng followed in second, third and fourth.
The junior tournament attracted over 50 participants majority from M.A Junior while the rest from other several schools.
The award section was divided into two; from M.A Junior and those from other schools.
It was not a surprise to tournament director Isaac Ondeng that Grade one Atella emerged as the best performer, saying that hard work pays also in chess.
“The fact that a Grade one was top in M.A Junior School shows that being the best is not only an issue of age but a matter of hard work, commitment and discipline,” said Ondeng, who also doubles a s Chess Kenya national coordinator.
“The participants played five rounds and it was good for them to compete as it improves their professional levels in the game of chess.”
Ondeng urged more parents to encourage and enroll their students to playing chess as it is healthy for their academics while also commending MA Junior School for choosing to not only focus on academic performance of their students but also promoting chess development in the region.
“I also encourage more and more students to play chess as it enhances concentration, problem-solving and analytical skills which are in tandem with the CBC curriculum,” he added.
Last tournament at M.A Junior was won by Fred Ouma.
The aim of the tournament was to help the kids compete and build on their professional levels because it is through competitions and tournaments that the kids gain professionalism.
Top winners
1.Derwin Atella
2.Billy Bisky
3.Shelloh Chantelle
4.Alisson Achieng-Best Girl
From other schools, the rankings were as follows
1.Tarryn Joseph
2.Ayman Jamal
3.Brianna Brandy
4.Talia Kusa
