Chess: St Mary's Yala emerge tops in national youth qualifiers

Esther Nyagoha from Makini School (left) in action during the Nyanza Region national youth chess championship.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

St Mary's Yala and Mudasa Academy emerged top secondary and primary schools at the Nyanza region Kenya National Youth and Cadets Chess Championship qualifiers held at Makini School in Kisumu over the weekend.

Siaya County's Yala topped in the under 18 and 16 boys categories as Mudasa dominated in the under 8, 10 and 12 categories.

Derrick Ochieng from St. Mary’s Yala bagged gold in the under 18 boys category after registering five points ahead of his schoolmate Emmanuel Dhilo and Owen Alala from Maranda inn second and third place respectively.

In the girls under 18, Mary Berth from Lions High School emerged top with five points followed by Sharleen Margaret and Tracy Awuor both from St Barnabas Girls.

Phenny Lwizer, Blessing Truphena and Merceline Adhiambo all from St Barnabas emerged first, second and third respectively in the girls under 16 category as Lamech Mulei and Desmond Opiyo from St. Mary’s Yala dominated in the boys's under 16 category ahead of Zacharia Ogongi from Jalaram Academy.

In the under 8 category, Curtis Reuben from Mudasa Academy emerged top in boy's category as Melissa Calyee from Kimberly Hills Academy in the girls category.

Speaking after the qualifiers, Chess Kenya Vice-president Andrew Owili revealed to the Standard Sports that over 200 students have been selected and will take part in the main event to be held in Nairobi on April 11.

He said the event attracted over 400 students from over 20 schools in the West Kenya Region and noting how chess in the region has been gradually improving over the years as a result of many schools taking up the sport due to its numerous benefits to school-going children.

"We are proud to witness and being part of the growth of chess in the county and I'd like to thank the county government of Kisumu for agreeing to sponsor the event and also thank All chess trainers and patrons, Maseno University Chess Club and members of Victoria Chess Club and Makini School for offering the technical support for the event."

"From this event, over 200 students have already qualified for the national youth championships to be held in April and we expect many more to qualify after all national qualifiers are held," said Owili who also doubles a Victoria Chess Club chairman.

Players from each region with two points and above will be eligible to qualify for the main national championships.

In Nairobi region, 516 out of 587 students qualified for the main event in the qualifiers held at Riara Springs High School.