The Kenya National Youth & Cadets Chess Championship – Mt Kenya Region has just set an all time record for the biggest chess event in Kenya and probably in the region.
The event held on 11th March 2017 had a total of 369 children who converged at the Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls in Karatina.
Various schools in the region were present and included – Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls Secondary School, Nyeri Good Shepherd Academy, Karima Girls Secondary School, Mt Kenya Academy, Kaangocho Secondary School, St. Theresa Academy, Kiarithani Boys Secondary School, Kanjuir Boys Secondary School, Tumutumu Girls Secondary School, Kabare Girls Secondary School, Birithia Girls Secondary School, Kiine Girls Secondary School, St Mary’s Boys Secondary School, Chania Boys Secondary School, Kaheti Boys Secondary School, Njiiri Boys Secondary School.
The top four in each Category qualified for the Nationals Qualification in 18th March, 2017 at Alliance Girls, Nairobi.
A normal event in Mt Kenya area will attract over 300 players on a regular basis. A key promoter in this region has been Watson Weru.
The tournament is part of the 2017 Chess Kenya National Youth Team selection process from which Chess Kenya will select the National Junior Team players to represent Kenya in the following international chess tournaments:
a) – Zone 4.2 Under 16 Youth Team Championships to be held 15th -23rd April 2017 in Mombasa, Kenya.
b) – World Cadet Chess Championships (WCCC) for U-8, U-10, U-12) to be held 21th -31st August 2017 in Brasilia, Brazil.
c) – World Youth Chess Championships (WYCC) for U-14, U-16, U-18 to be held 16th -26th September 2017 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
d) – African Youth Chess Championships (AYCC all age groups) to held 1st-10th December 2017 in Giza, Egypt.
