Home Chess News 2011 Kenya National Chess Championship now postponed to 2012 – Duh?

2011 Kenya National Chess Championship now postponed to 2012 – Duh?

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Remember my post on 16th November 2011 when I pointed out that our 2011 National Championship was to held on 10th – 12th December 2011.

Well guess what – on 29th November 2011 this is what I received;

Hello,
 
The Olympiad Committee deliberated and agreed to postphone the National Chess Championship/ 1st Phase Olympiad elimination tournament. This was upon looking into requests to postphone. However, in future let us look at the chess kenya calendar of events (which is often circulated at the beginning of every year) and note that events will not be postphone upon request. A player who plans to miss a Chess Kenya event will have to forego the chess tournament/ event.
 
The dates for the 1st phase Olympiad 2012 elimination tournament will be communicated in good time.
 
kind regards,
Mary Kanyua,

Chess Kenya committee member.
The first that caught my attention was the spelling mistake but that is fine it happens to all of us at the best of time and can be forgiven.  However what is not forgiven is not spelling Kenya with  capital letter!!
I also found the email very confusing.  Why would the National Federation want to postpone an event upon request. Request from who and why?  The last sentence is absolute mind blocker -“A player who plans to miss a Chess Kenya event will have to forego the chess tournament/ event.”  ???

Well it is over I guess.  My question is – Is it possible to have the 2011 National Championship in 2012?
I have done some digging and found out the following about past events
1993 Kenya National Championship – YMCA hall 21,22,28,29 Aug 1993. Winner Humphrey Andolo and Rodgers Adai with 8 points out of 9 rounds. Total number of players 114.  This was the 3rd edition
1994 Kenya National Championship – YMCA 30th April 1,2 May 1994 winner Lothar Nikolaiczuk with 6.5 points, Joint second Jim Burnett, Mike Waliuba, Pathgaonkar, Humphrey Andolo joint second with 6 points out of 7.
1995 Kenya National Championship – Nairobi Gymkhana Winner Andolo and John  Mukabi with6 points. 72 players
1996 Kenya National Championship – Taifa Hall, 19 to 21 Oct 1996, winner PN Odhiambo and Mike  Waliuba with 7 points. Total 85 players. Junior winner Fred Okach and total 15 players
1997 Kenya National Championship – Winner Humphrey Andolo with 7 points 102 players
1998 Championship – winner Humphrey Andolo with 6.5points. Martin Oyamo, Ken Omolo joint second with 6. Event held at Braeburn School.
1999 Kenya National Championship – winner Humphrey Andolo, Nathan Ateka, Philip Singe  with 6 points. A total of 43 players took part.  Event held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre. 
Humphrey Andolo was one of Kenya’s best players and he now resides in the UK.  I will write about him later
Lothar Nikolaiczuk (another old friend) returned to Germany within 6 months of winning the Championship.  I will write something about him later as well.  Lothar has written some books on chess but all are in German.
I will also cover PN Odhiambo as well.