St Monica's Girls upbeat ahead of World Schools Chess Championship
Unique Sports
By
Washington Onyango
| Aug 01, 2023
National champions St. Monica's Girls High school departed on Tuesday for Aktau, Kazakhstan to participate in the World Schools Chess Championships starting on August 3rd to 8th.
The event has attracted 73 teams from all over the world and will be held at the Halyk Arena.
Chess Kenya hosted one of the biggest sporting event in the country - The Kenya National Youth Chess Championship 2023 jointly at Kisii School and Kereri Girls from April 23th-27th.
The tournament attracted 3246 participants comprising 2089 boys and 1157 Girls (Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 & Under-18 for Open & Girl's categories) drawn from all parts of the country.
St.Monica's Girls High School participated and entered 30 students in various categories and emerged the best overall in secondary category for the second year running.
The performance has also huge significance to demystify popular myth held that boys do better in Chess sport than Girls.
For several years the national title had been held by boys' schools such as Alliance Boys (2018), St. Joseph Boys Kitale (2019) and St. Patricks Iten (2021,2022).
The school that win has huge responsibility to fly national flag in international events.
The team comprises 5 players and two teachers from St. Monica's Girls High school.
The players include Maysie Andia (Under 16 Girls) ,Purity, Cherotich (Under 18 Girls) , Faith Chemtai (Under 16 Girls), Mary Wothaya (Under 16 Girls) and Deborah Cherotich (Under 16 Girls). They are accompanied by their teacher Madam Christine Makokha(team Captain) and Madam Grace Oyugi (School Principal)
The trip has been jointly sponsored by Chess Kenya,World Chess Federation (FIDE) and NOC-K.
Chess Kenya takes the earlier opportunity to wish the team safe flight and all the best in the tournament.