The 2nd edition of the Faith Ventures Junior Open Chess Championship was held last weekend at the Faith Ventures Christian Academy, Garden Estate Nairobi.
We have enclosed a short report from Mr Lawrence Kagambi who is the CEO of Waridi Ventures.
11 year old Sunil Subramaniam and 10 year-old Fathima Mohamed stole the show winning the Boys U-18 and Girls U-18 categories respectively during the 2nd Faith Ventures Junior Open Chess Championships 2016 which took place over on Saturday.

Both players were in a class of their own demonstrating a high level of skill, precision and determination to win. Having started playing chess only four years ago, the children are a case study that chess makes the players smart and improve in their academic grades. Both children are “A” class students!

A record 117 players from 15 schools participated in the championships.

The schools included;
Winka Academy-South C, All Saints Cathedral Primary – Madaraka Estate, Beacon of Hope – Ongata Rongai, Premier Academy –Parklands, North Gate School – Githurai, Makini School, Emerald Academy, Oshwal Academy Nairobi Primary, Oshwal Academy Junior High, Faith Ventures Christian Academy – Garden Estate, Catholic Parochial – Nairobi, Samaj School – South C, Buruburu One Primary, New Light Junior Academy – Komarock, Summerbrook School – Nairobi.
The tournament was contested in the under U-8, U-10, U-12 and U-18 categories with a time control of 45 minutes per player in all categories. Here are the final rankings:
1.Taran Moudgalyas
2.Mark Mitsanze
3.Gabriel Munyao
Girls U-8
1.Caisie Wanjiku
2.Allysia Mumbua
3.Elaine Moturi
Boys U-10
1.Rueben Githaiga
2.Mark Alando
3.Sharad Nareddy
Girls U-10
1.Kylin Kahoro
2.Janice Soimo
3.Nadia Rose
Boys U-12
1.Moses Kibet
2.Kim Caleb
3.Roy Baraka
Girls U-12
1.Assyah Karama
2.Gilliane Otieno
3.Sharon Nyambura
Boys U-18
1.Sunil Subramaniam
2.Sathya Iyer
3.Felix Kigenyi
Girls U-18
1.Fathima Mohamed
2.Precious Nyambura
3.Elsa Majimbo
Makini School won the best school team trophy with Shepherds Junior School coming a close second while Winka Academy was placed third.
The tournament’s Chief Arbiter FA, FI Lawrence Kagambi had this to say after the event ”Chess in Kenya is going places. It is just a matter of time before we become a force to reckon with in Africa. In the last two years,many Kenyan players have attained the FIDE (World Chess Federation) ratings and we are currently placed 4th in Africa in terms of numbers rated players by the World Chess Federation”
The championships was organized by Waridi Chess Ventures in partnership with Excel Chess Club. Mr Samuel Kimani was the Tournament Director.
We at Kenya Chess Masala congratulate Waridi Chess Ventures, Excel Chess Club and Faith Ventures Christian Academy for organising a successful event.