Kenyans post mixed results at Chess Championship

Joyce Nyaruai on her way to winning the KCB Kenya Open Chess Championships [Courtesy]

It was a sad day for Kenyans after two ladies lost as Africa Zone 4.2 Individual Chess Championship entered Day Three yesterday at Shaza Beach Hotel in Mombasa.

Kenya's hope remained at the hands of Vasanrh Ramesh who drew 1/2 against Djibouti's Yousuf Omer Mohammed in men's contest.

In Ladies category, Sasha Mongeli lost 1-0 to Uganda's Peninah Nakobo as another Kenyan Joyce Nyaruai lost to Ugandan Ivy Amoko. 

With six more rounds to go, it is still too early to predict the winners in the Open and Ladies section who will represent the zone at the 2019 Chess World Cup (a 128n player single elimination chess tournament) set for Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia on September 9  to October 2. They will also receive Sh10,000 (USD 1,000) and Sh50,000 (USD 500) respectively.

Egypt's Ahmed Adly, the tournament’s top seed Grand Master, displayed flawless chess to top the standings. The Egyptian defeated Kenya’s fourth-ranked Mehul Gohil, who is rated 556.

“I just got stage fright. Adly is extremely good and I don’t know what hit me, " said Mehul. The same fate befell Uganda’s FM Haruna Nsubuga when he lost Adly.

South Sudan’s Panchol Madol gifted IM Arthur Ssegwanyi a win in round three after beating Kenya’s Peter Gilruth for the fifth straight time in round two. This set the stage for a mouthwatering encounter against Uganda’s veteran player Bob Bibasa in round four.

In Ladies section, Egypt’s Alaa Moaataz won all her three games to top the standings as Kenya’s Gloria Jumba and WCM Joyce Nyaruai remained in joint second place with two points apiece alongside Uganda’s WFM Ivy Amoko and her compatriot WFM Goretti Angolikin with another Egyptian Sohayla Abdelmenaem joining the chasing pack.

Chess Kenya Deputy Secretary Rodah Olisa said the federation supports the fight on doping. " we have not witnessed a single case of doping in chess," said Olisa. 

She said the championship that ends on Saturday has attracted 11 countries.