CM Ben Magana crowned Mombasa Open Champion

Mombasa Open

CM Ben Magana was last week crowned the 2018 Mombasa Open Chess Champion.

The Mombasa Open Chess Championship was held on 19^th – 21^st October at Midview Hotel, Nyali.  A total of 67 players took part in the Open Section.

The time control was 90 minutes + 30 seconds  per move.  The event had 6 rounds with an impressive KES 100,000 (USD 1,000) prize fund.

IM Elijah Emojong the defending champion from Uganda got off to a fine start by winning his first 4 rounds.  However draws against fellow countryman FM Haruna Nsubua and CM Ben Magana dashed his hopes of winning the event.

CM Ben Magana scored 5.5 points out of 6 points to collect a cash prize of KES 30,000 (USD 300).

The CM Magana verses IM Emojong game was probably the most exciting game of the event.

This was the the first time a Kenyan has won the event since 2012.

Past winners

2017 – IM Elijah Emojong (Uganda).

2016 – IM Elijah Emojong (Uganda).

2015 – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi (Uganda).

2014 – Mathias Ssonko (Uganda).

2013 – FM Haruna Nsubuga (Uganda).

2012 – LGM Brian Kidula (Kenya).

2011 – FM Harold Wanyama (Uganda).

2010 – FM Harold Wanyama (Uganda).

Prize winners in the Open Section

OPEN SECTION

1. CM Ben Magana – KCB (5.5 points) KES 30,000.
2. IM Elijah Emojong – (5 points) KES 13,000.
3. Philip Singe – KCB (5 points)  KES 13,000.
4. FM Haruna Nsubuga – KCB (5 points) KES 13,000.
5. James Luala – Equity (5 points) KES 13,000.
6. Joseph Methu– KCB (4.5 points) KES1,250.
7. Martin Njoroge – KCB (4.5 points) KES 1,250.
8. Jackson Kamau – KCB (4.5 points) KES 1,250.
9. Karan Christie – Daystar (4.5 points) KES 1,250.

BEST MOMBASA BASED PLAYER.

Andrew Mumia – Mombasa Chess Club (4 points).

BEST LADY

1. Jumba Gloria – KCB (3.5 points) KES 5,000.
2. Lucy Wanjiru – UoN (3.5 points) KES 5,000.

BEST UNIVERSITY TEAM.

University of Nairobi – 11.5 points.

BEST CHESS CLUB.

KCB Chess Club – 21 points.

BEST UNIVERSITY PLAYER.

Karan Christie – Daystar University (4.5 points).

The story on the 2017 Mombasa Open can be found here – IM Emojong wins 2017 Mombasa Open.

Mombasa Open – Junior Section

The Junior Section was run in 3 sections with a total of 50 players.

The U18 Section had 10 players and the U12 Section had 32 players.  The U8 Section had 12 players.

Prize winners in the Junior Section

UNDER 8 BOYS.

1. Cyprian Mbaabu – Kahawa Baptist Academy (6 points).
2. Ethan Maina – Mombasa Chess Academy (5 points).
3. Ruhan Dhruv Paresh Shah – Mombasa Chess Academy (4 points).

UNDER 8 GIRLS.

1. Elliana Maina – Mombasa Chess Academy (3 points).
2. Yvonne Adego Mwashe – Oshwal Academy (3 points).
3. Tiana Shah – Mombasa Chess Academy (1.5 points).

UNDER 10 BOYS.

1. Shah Drish Rakesh – Tritonites Stars (5 points).
2. Gabriel Ray – Makini School (4.5 points).
3. Shubh Jaideep Shah – Mombasa Chess Club (4.5 points).

UNDER 10 GIRLS.

1. Patel Pratik Suhana – Tritonites Stars (4.5 points).
2. Cassie Wanjiku – Makini School (4 points).
3. Elaine Moturi – Makini School (4 points).

UNDER 12 BOYS.

1. Reuben Githaiga – Makini School (5 points).
2. Howard John – Makini School (5 points).
3. Moses Bejon – Kivukoni (3 points).

UNDER 12 GIRLS.

1. Shah Rheya – Mombasa Chess Academy (3 points).
2. Lailah Makena – Makini School (2 points).
3. Lovita Ndanu Muia – Mombasa Chess Academy (1.5 points).

UNDER 14 BOYS.

1. Shayne Shah – Mombasa Chess Academy (4 points).
2. Lakhani Nivyan – Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa (3.5 points).
3. Shah Viraj Bhaveshu – Peponi School (3 points).

UNDER 18 BOYS.

1. Naim Abdulhakim Salim – Mombasa Chess Academy (6 points).
2. Harunany Noor Mohammed – Mombasa Chess Club (4 points).
3. Doshi Rahul – Mombasa Chess Academy (3.5 points).

UNDER 18 GIRLS.

Holiness Kerandi – Makini School (2 points).

Sponsors.

The major sponsor of this event included Chess Kenya (KES 50,000) & Spaceman Solutions Ltd (trophies).  Others included Sonal & Shubh Shah who sponsored the score sheets and biros.