KCB Chess Club upbeat ahead of Mombasa Open this weekend

KCB's Ricky Sang (L) makes a move against Nakuru Chess Club Samuel Ngila (R) during the Kenya National Chess league at KCB Sports Club Ruaraka on October 8. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

Kenya Chess Premier League leaders KCB are optimistic of a good outing at the Mombasa Open Chess Championship slated for Saturday at the Mombasa Beach Hotel.

The tournament has attracted top regional chess players who will be fighting for various prize purses in different categories. In the open section, the overall winner will bag Sh50, 000, Sh 20, 000 for the lady winner, and a trophy for the junior winner.

KCB Chess Team will be captained by Candidate Master Benjamin Magana, who will be joined by FIDE Masters Martin Njoroge and Joyce Nyaruai, Bernard Nguku, teenage sensation Robert McLigeyo among others.

Speaking during a training session at the KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka, Team Manager Isaac Babu said the are ready.

"We are raring to participate in the Mombasa Open because we believe the plethora of talent within our squad hands the team a massive boost.

"We have been doing well in the league, so we expect to showcase the same desire and dominance at the competition. It also gives us an ideal platform to test ourselves against the best Chess players from within the East African Region," said Babu.

The second-best player in the open section will take home Sh30, 000, while the second-best player in the ladies' section will be awarded Sh15, 000. The runner-up junior player will clinch a silver medal in the competition that has attracted 59 players so far.

The team is on course to bag another Kenya National Chess Premier League title following its unparalleled display in the current season. They sit at the summit of the ranking cross table ahead of Equity Chess Club, Nairobi Chess Club and Nairobi Chess Academy and Club.

They will depart for Mombasa tomorrow evening as anticipation builds ahead of the much-awaited competition.