Chess: Muthoni and Shah win Oshwal Academy Youth Chess Championship

A junior chess player in action during the 9th edition of Capablanca Chess Cup (PHOTO: Washington Onyango/Standard)

Muthoni of All Saints Cathedral registered four win to emerge top in the girls’ under-8 category ahead of Shivya Saini of Braeburn and Riya Shah of Oshwal Academy who finished second and third respectively.

In the boy’s category, Krishiv Shah of Oshwal Academy bagged six wins to emerge the winner with Daksh Prapugati(Arya Vedic) and Yazid Mtimet (French School) coming in second and third.

Prince Karani of Azuri School would then top in the boy’s under 10 with six points as Woman Candidate Master Shah Janvi of Oshwal Academy won the girls category.

Elaine Moturi of Makini School took the under 12 girls gold medal as Arya Vedics’s Taran Moudgalya won in the boy’s category.

Under 14 and 18 boy’s categories saw John Howard from Makini School and Sunil Subramanian of Oshwal Academy emerge top as Nomsa Kendi of All Saints and Nishi Shah of Oshwal Academy bagged gold in the girl’s categories respectively.

The top three students in each category were given medals and all players issued with certificates with Chess Kenya Chief Arbiter Anthony Kionga saying they are preparing for the regional youth qualifiers.

"We organized the event in order to prepare the kids for the upcoming regional youth qualifiers which begin in February. We are happy to have attracted such a big crowd which is an indication that the demand for chess has tremendously grown over the years,” Kionga told the Standard Sports.

Qualifiers for Kenya National Youth and Cadets Chess Championship game begin in Feb. Both Kisumu and Nairobi will have their Qualifiers played on 1st Feb at Makini School, Kisumu and Riara Springs Academy respectively.

Players that score two points and above will qualify for the National Championship which will be held in April over the Easter Holiday in Mombasa.

The Kenya National Youth and Cadets Chess Champions will represent the country in continental and international tournaments with eyes focused on the African Youth Chess Championship to be held in Cameroon in August.