16 picked for world youth chess event

By FeverPitch Reporter

Chess Kenya (CK) will send 16 players to the World Youth Championship in Antalya, Turkey, from November 11 to 23.

This is the largest contingent to represent the country at an international event. Chess Kenya has been sending teams to the annual world youth event since 2000.

The team: Girls’ U-8: Shefali Kachra, boys’ U-8: Sahil Raja, girls’ U-10: Riya Shah, Sita Shah and Renee Kachra, boys’ U-10: Gowtham Vigneshwar, Srinjay Mukhopadhyay, boys’ U-12: Roy Mukere, Jasper Lee, girls’ U-12: Rebecca Nyamahiga, boys’ U-14: Elizaphan Murage, Rushab Shah, Dennis Kamanu, girls’ U-14: Rivani Shah, boys’ U-16: Brian Mahehu, girls U-16: Divvya Sethumathavan.

Meanwhile, grandmaster Monika Socko of Poland made history as the first woman to win the Arctic Chess Challenge in Tromso, Norway.

She tied with three other players but was ranked top after a tie-break. The annual championship attracted 120 players including 13 grandmasters and 15 international masters.

Africa’s Hopes

Africa was represented by 21 players in the tournament (two from Kenya, one from Mozambique, two from Seychelles, one from Libya, one from Zambia and South Africa).

Africa’s hopes were on the first grandmaster from sub-sahara, Amon Simutowe, of Zambia but things did not go well for him right from the start after he missed round one due to a travel hitch. However, Donaldo Paiva, who played in the Africa Individual Youth Chess Championship (for players under 20 years) in Johannesburg, South Africa last year, was in top form.

He won Group Three with six points from eight games (also missed round one).

Isabelle Asiema, Kenya Open women’s champion, gave a good account of herself at her debut on the international stage. Prizes are, however, awarded according to various category strengths. She amassed two and-a-half points from a possible nine.

Lawrence Kagambi, Chess Kenya Secretary General, who was persuaded by the organisers to play from round two, finished joint third in the group after scoring four points out of a possible eight.

Related Topics

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