This has to be a new Kenyan chess record. The biggest chess event in Kenya came to an end last weekend when over 320 children from 50 schools took part in the final section of the 2017 Kenya National Youth & Cadets Chess Championship last weekend (18th and 19th March 2017) at the sprawling Alliance Girls School in Kikuyu which is located just on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Over 900 children took part in various qualifiers held all over the country to select the top players for the U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 categories.
Qualifiers were held in Nairobi, South West Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western, Coast, Kisumu, Eastern and Mt Kenya. Reports for each section can be found on this website.
For many this was an amazing experience coming to Nairobi to meet some of Kenya’s finest players in their age group. Life long friends will be made and the sweet memories will last a life time.
Schools represented in this event included; Imani Braeburn, Mt Kenya Academy – Nyeri Good Shepherd Academy, Jalaram Academy, Makini School – Nairobi, Oshwal Academy, Green Garden School, Elimu House School, Thika Road Christian School, Buru Buru One Primary School, Testimony School, Makini School – Kisumu, Peponi Preparatory School, Consolata School, Beacon of Hope Academy, All Saints Catheral, Immaculate Juniroate, Green Garden School, MM Shah School, Kisii Primary School, St Theresa Academy, CITAM, Imperial Primary School, Musa Gitau Primary School, Nyeri Good Shepherd Academy, Memon High School, St Joseph Boys Kitale, Chalaw Academy, Nyang’ori Boys Secondary School, St Patrick Boys Iten, Kiarithaini Boys Secondary School, St Peter’s High School, Mosa Mixed Secondary School, Kisumu Boys High School, Mindbridge Academy, Karima Girls Secondary School, Moi Girls High School, Sing’ore Girls High School, Mukumu Girls, Bishop Gathimu Ngandu Girls. Loreto Convent Matunda, Loreto Girls, Hillcrest School, Alliance High School, St Mary’s Boys Secondary School, St Mary’s Yala Kisii High School, Kanjuri Boys Secondary School, St Charles Lwanga Boys High School, Ringa Boys High School, Braeburn School, Alliance Girls High School, St Angela’s High School, St Ursula Girl’s High School, Tambach Boys High School, St Mary’s Yala, Aga Khan School, Starehe Boys Center and School and Maven’s Educational & Chess Centre.
I am still surprised that sponsors have not yet woken up to this massive opportunity to promote their products and service to this booming market of chess players.
The list of the winners of the 2017 Kenya National Youth & Cadets Chess Championship is shown below;
Girls
U8 – Janki Nipul Shah, Oshwal Academy
U10 – Devashri Sanjay Shah, Oshwal Academy
U12 – Vivian Muthoni, Elimu House.
U14 – Mercy Ingado, Elimu House School.
U16 – Silvia Wahito, Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls.
U18 – FM Riya Shah, Aga Khan Academy.
Boys
U8 – Drish Rakesh Shah, Imani Braeburn School.
U10 – Reeyan Gosrani, Peponi Preparatory School.
U12 – Alvin Mbithi (home schooling)
U14 – Jeff Gichuki, Elimu.
U16 – Dev Shah, Hillcrest School.
U18 – Brian Chege.
An interesting observation is that Elimu House School scooped 3 top prizes in this event and included Boys U14 and Girls U12 and U14.
For more fine photos from this event please check out 2017 Final KNYCCC Photos.
Link to the website for the results – 2017 Final KNYCCC Results on Chess-Results.
