Top young Kenyan chess players are set to battle it out with their counterparts from five countries during the inaugural East Africa Under 21 Open Chess Championship which kicks off in Kisumu this weekend.
The tournament sponsored by Victoria Chess Club has attracted 400 players from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Canada, Britain and United States (USA).
Chess Kenya Vice President Andrew Owili said the tournament to be played at Imperial Sarova hotel in Kisumu City will see top ranking U21 players from the Kenyan team battle it out with award winning players from the five nations. “We are going to have two categories. One is the prestige category for ranked players and the elite category which will have all the 400 players,” he said.
Kenya, he added will be represented by Shukri Shakira, Elizabeth Cassidy, Mishit Ruvat, Robert Mclegio among others.
The tournament which runs concurrently with the Festac Africa Festival which runs from 25th August-1st September 2024 in Kisumu, he said, will offer the players a platform to horn their skills as they prepare to compete on the global stage.
Owili asked chess players to turn out in large numbers to cheer the players adding that the organisers will deliver a World class tournament.
Victoria Chess Club Coach and player Denis Wambugu said winners in the different categories will take home different prizes among them laptops, mobile phones and tablets.
In addition, the overall winners will also get a return air ticket.
“It is not just about playing. The winners will be awarded to encourage them to take the sport seriously,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara