James Panchol wins 61st Nairobi Chess Club Championship -

James Panchol wins 61st Nairobi Chess Club Championship

James Panchol was last Sunday crowned 61st Nairobi Chess Club Champion.

He obtained 5 points out of 6 rounds in what was one of the toughest events in Kenya for 2019. Simon Gonza of Uganda also earned 5 points but was second on the tie-break. James Panchol and Simon Gonza shared the top two cash prizes of KES 30,000 (USD 300).

James Panchol winner of the 61st Nairobi Chess Club Championship in action. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Simon Gonza of Uganda in action. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Brian Adorwa in round five, managed to defeat the speeding train – James Panchol, who was the top seed.

The Open Section had a total of 14 players with an average rating of 1837.

The top prize in the Open Section was KES 20,000 (USD 200) and the second prize was KES 10,000 (USD 100).

James Panchol versus Brian Adorwa

Simon Gonza versus Brian Adorwa

U1800 Section

Adan Abdul Roba won the U1800 Section with a score of 5 of out six rounds beating a field of 14 players. The average rating of this section was 1653.

He went home with a cash prize of KES 10,000.

Adan Abdul Roba (right) proud winner of the U1800 Section receives his trophy from CEO of Nairobi Chess Academy FM Steve Ouma. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Adnan Abdul Roba versus Francis Michuki

U1600 Section

Viraj Bhaveshu Shah, a 14-year-old from Peponi School, won the U1600 Section with a perfect score of 6 points out of 6 rounds. Despite being ranked 21st in this group, Viraj played well to scoop this section. He went home with a cash prize of KES 6,000 and obtained 127 rating points.

This group had a total of 54 players with 1-hour time control.

Anthony Kionga versus Viraj Shah

We have an interesting game from 12 year old Ashwina Haria-Skuse who is a student at Burnham Grammar School in Buckinghamshire, England. She was a recent participant in the 106th British Chess Championship U12 held in August 2019.

Ashwina Haria-Skuse versus Glen Oruke Kingoria

12 year-old Ashwina Haria-Skuse of England in action. She ended up with a respectable 4.5 points out of 6 games. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Prize fund & Sponsors

The hugely successful event boasted a prize fund of KES 75,000 (USD 750). The top prize in the Open Section was KES 20,000 (USD 200), the U1800 Section was KES 10,000, and in the U1600 it was KES 6,000.

Sponsors of this event included

Aslam Adam
Peter Gilruth
James Kirimi
Roberto Villuela
Davis Njuguna Mburu
Rose Nafula Chemiat
William Wachira Wachania
Trevor Mulindi

The event had players from six federations. These included Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, France, England and Kenya.