Home Chess News CM Wachira Wachania is the winner of the 2016 Nairobi Gymkhana Millionaire...

CM Wachira Wachania is the winner of the 2016 Nairobi Gymkhana Millionaire Chess

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The ever jovial CM Wachira Wachania showed steely determination when he defeated top seed Akello Atwoli in a thrilling knock out encounter last weekend to win an all expenses paid trip to the USA to attend the 3rd edition of Millionaire Chess in Atlantic City.

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Chairman of Nairobi Gymkhana Club Mr Arun Jain presents the top prize to a beaming CM Wachira Wachania while GM Maurice Ashley looks on.

Over 190 players converged at Nairobi Gymkhana with 90 in the Open Section and more than 100 in the Junior Section.  CM Wachira Wachania won the first 5 round Swiss Event with a clean 5/5.

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The ever jovial CM Wachira Wacharia showing players that he is made of steel!

The top 4 players in the Open Section then met in the Knock Out Stage with CM Wachira Wachania meeting Martin Njoroge and Akello Atwoli  meeting Mohammed Jeneby for two games with 15 minutes each.

In this Knock Out Stage CM Wachira Wachania defeated Martin Njoroge and Akello Atwoli defeated Mohammed Jeneby.  The final battle for top prize was now going to be fought between CM Wachira Wachaia and Akello Atwoli with 2 Rapid Games of 15 minutes each and then if tied two Blitz Games followed by Armageddon.

 

Akello Atwoli lost in game 1 but won the next one to force the Blitz playoffs where Akello was expected to win.

 

However it was clear that the high stakes involved caused Akello Atwoli to lose his nerves and he lost both Blitz games on time!

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Pre-tournament favorite Akello Atwoli meditates before the Blitz matches start.
 

Chess players were treated to some great live commentary on a big screen of the Knock Out Stage by GM Maurice Ashley who was the special guest for the event.

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GM Maurice Ashley doing what he is world famous for – commentating on games. Only this time the players are not Grandmasters!
 

In addition to the 1st prize of an all expense paid trip to the USA worth USD 2,500 further cash prizes of KES 120,000 was given to various winners to ensure that this event remained the most lucrative event to date in Kenya.  In addition, over 40 glittering trophies were given out to various winners.

38 year old CM Wachira Wachania who is married is a businessman with 2 young boys and has represented Kenya in the 2006 Turin Olympiad.

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Chairman of Nairobi Gymkhana Club Arun Jain presents GM Maurice Ashley a gift for his maiden Kenyan visit.
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Final ranking of the top 25 players in the Open Section

You can download the games that were recorded by the 5 DGT Boards here – Pgn File