Joseph Methu wins 2019 Nairobi Open
Joseph Methu wins the 4th Edition of the prestigious Nairobi Open Chess Championship. He cruised to a comfortable win with 5.5 points out of 6 points to earn KES 18,750 (USD 187).
Simon Gonza of Uganda also obtained the same points but was declared runner’s up on tie-break.
Mehul Gohil, Milton Kihara, James Panchol, Miskin Mohamed & Joshua Katumba were in joint second place with 5 points.
The event ran from 15th to 16th June 2019 at Parkland’s Sports Club, in Nairobi.
The event attracted players from Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan and host Kenya. Simon Gonza, Joshua Katumba and Ezekiel Masiko represented Uganda. Abdi Miskin and Nur Ahmed Abdulkadir were the players from the Somalia federation. James Panchol, who lives in Kenya, represented South Sudan.
Just over 70 players took part in the tournament which coincided with a junior tournament as well. The junior event had a total of over 220 children.
Nairobi Chess Academy & Club as part of their CSR supported a team of physically disabled persons at this year’s event by giving five free entries.
Past winners
2015: Kenneth Omolo.
2016: Mehul Gohil.
2018: Jackson Kamau.
Other prize winners
Best Lady
Pranjal Parikh and WCM Lucy Wanjiru with 4 points.
Best Junior U18 years
Timothy Mwabu with 4.5 points.
Best U1700 rated player
Collins Young & Mushfig Habilov with 4 points.
Best U1600 rated player
Lenox Maingi & CM Aguda Lwanga with 4 points.
Best Unrated Player
Samuel Makumi with 4.5 points.
Best Private Club
Black Knights Chess Club.
Parklands Sport’s Club
Parklands Sports Club was founded in 1906 by a group of eleven white settlers with Mr F. Watkins as its first President.
The Club was a centre of tennis, cricket and rugby activities in the early years.
The Test Matches between Asians and Europeans started was played at the Club around 1938 as World War II began its rumblings in Europe. These 3-day matches were played annually up to the 1960s.
The Club sits on a 22-acre plot and has a currently approximately 4,000 members.
Links
Standings & Results of 2019 Nairobi Open.
Jackson Kamau wins 2018 Nairobi Open.
