Equity on top as Gohil and Mwikali win Mombasa Open

Mehul Gohil of Nairobi Chess Club in action during Mombasa Chess Open. [Washington Onyango, Standard]

Mehul Gohil and Daphne Mwikali were crowned the men’s and ladies 2019 Mombasa Chess Open champions on Monday at the Technical University of Mombasa after winning all their respective matches.

Gohil, who plays for Nairobi Chess Club emerged the winner with six points from six board matches to win gold followed by Mathew Kanegeni and Fide Master Stephen Ouma both of Equity Chess Club in second and third place respectively.

In the ladies category, Daphne Mwikali of Equity Chess Club won gold with four points and was followed closely by Woman Candidate Master Lucy Wanjiru with 3.5 points in second place.

In the juniors’ category, Rian Shah of Mombasa Chess Academy and Tamara Imali of KBA School won the under 8 boys and girls categories as Cyprian Mbaabu and Agnes Wanjiru both of KBA School emerged winners in the under 10 boys and girls categories.

Moses Bejon of Kivokoni School and Estherlynn Njeri of KBA School won in under 12 boys and girls as Rahul Doshi of Mombasa Chess Academy and Esther Wangari of KBA School took home the under 18 boys and girls awards respectively.

Equity Chess Club was ranked as best club and KBA School ranked the best junior chess team.

“The tournament was hard and challenging but am happy that I won. Congrats to the juniors too for performing at their best. This tourney was just a warm up as we head towards premier league action,” Gohil said.

Action now shifts to the Kenya Chess Premier League slated for weekend hosted by Light House Chess Academy.