Chess: Nguku and Mongeli lead search for Olympiad vital slots

Edna Adhiambo of Bank of Africa (right) in action against Daphne Mwikali of Equity Bank in a Kenya Chess Premier League match. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

KCB chess club’s Ben Nguku and Woman Fide Master (WFM) Sasha Mongeli are some of the top names seeking slots for the upcoming 44th World Chess Olympiad championships to be held in Moscow, Russia in August.

Nguku bagged five wins and one draw in the first six rounds of the Olympiad qualifiers at KCB Sports Club over the weekend and leads the Open section with 13 points.

The KCB player registered wins against teammate Candidate Master Ben Magana, Brian Kadenge, Sang Ricky, Robert Mcligeyo before drawing against Joseph Methu.

Nguku is followed closely in second place by Martin Njoroge of SEKU University, who has 11 points, while CM Magana and national champion Mehul Gohil of Nairobi Chess Club are tied in third place with nine points each. Methu is fifth with eight points.

In the ladies’ category, WFM Mongeli of Technical University of Kenya and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Lucy Wanjiru of Deadly Bishops lead the pack with 14 points followed by WCM Joyce Nyaruai of KCB Chess Club, with 13 points.

Ngima Cheryl of Black Knights is fourth with seven points, while Julie Mutisya of Nakuru Chess Club and Obondo Cynthia of Technical University of Kenya are tied in fifth with six points.