Home Chess News Mehul Gohil & WCM Lucy Wanjiru Crowned Kenya National Champions

Mehul Gohil & WCM Lucy Wanjiru Crowned Kenya National Champions

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Mehul Gohil & WCM Lucy Wanjiru crowned Kenya National Champions

Mehul Gohil is the 2019 Kenya National Champion. He drew his final round 9 game against Ben Nguku to win the title . Mehul Gohil was undefeated in this tough tournament with seven wins and two draws.

Mehul Gohil received the winner’s shield and the keys to a Mazda car that was the first prize. It was his second national title with the first one being in 2014.

The final round 9 match was a critical one for the top two boards as we had the following permutations.

Mehul Gohil would win the first prize if he drew or won his game.

If Mehul Gohil lost, then Ben Nguku would have been the National Champion and driven off with the car.  It was a final game with high stakes and marred with errors from both players.

Mehul Gohil v Ben Nguku

2019 Kenya National Champion Mehul Gohil (left) receives his shield from Chess Kenya President Benard Wanjala. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
2019 Kenya National Champion Mehul Gohil (left) receives his shield from Chess Kenya President Benard Wanjala. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Dr Victor Ng’ani on board 2 defeated Githinji Hinga to end up in 2nd place.

Dr Victor Ng’ani v Githinji Hinga

Nathan Ateka handed CM Ben Magana his 3rd defeat of the event in the final round.  CM Ben Magana seemed to have been in severe time trouble to blunder in the end.

CM Ben Magana v Nathan Ateka

The final result meant that Ben Nguku, Dr Victor Ng’ani and Nathan Ateka ended up in joint 2nd place with 7.5 points each.

The sequence of events. The 2019 Kenya National Champion Mehul Gohil receives his shield from CK President Benard Wanjala. Next is the winner's speech. 'Sukuti Dancers' accompany Mehul Gohil to the car. Benard Wanjala presents the keys of the car, Mehul Gohil drives off for a final photo session with the car and shield. Photo credits Kim Bhari.
The sequence of events. The 2019 Kenya National Champion Mehul Gohil receives his shield from CK President Benard Wanjala. Next is the winner’s speech. ‘Sukuti Dancers’ accompany Mehul Gohil to the car. Benard Wanjala presents the keys of the car, Mehul Gohil drives off for a final photo session with the car and shield. Photo credits Kim Bhari.
Mehul Gohil poses with his shield and car. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
Mehul Gohil poses with his shield and car. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Ladies Section

WCM Lucy Wanjiru won her maiden Kenya National Ladies Championship title with 7.5 points out of 9 points.  She defeated WFM Sasha Mongeli in the final 9th round to decide the winner.

The Riara Springs School Deputy Head Wilson Andala presents WCM Lucy Wanjiru with her prize. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
The Riara Springs School Deputy Head Wilson Andala presents WCM Lucy Wanjiru with her prize. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

WCM Lucy Wanjiru went home with the winner’s shield, a laptop and KES 100,000 (USD 1,000) as the top prize.

WFM Sasha Mongeli v WCM Lucy Wanjiru

The Riara Springs School Deputy Head Wilson Andala presents WCM Joyce Nyaruai with her prize for joint 2nd place. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
The Riara Springs School Deputy Head Wilson Andala presents WCM Joyce Nyaruai with her prize for joint 2nd place. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

It is interesting to note that 22-year-old WCM Lucy Wanjiru is also a rapper as well! Her stage name and Instagram handle is The Lone Wolf.   Lucy is a student at the University of Nairobi in the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The Riara Springs School Deputy Head Wilson Andala presents WFM Sasha Mongeli with her prize for joint 2nd place. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
The Riara Springs School Deputy Head Wilson Andala presents WFM Sasha Mongeli with her prize for joint 2nd place. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

A ‘match-fixing’ incident marred the Ladies section in the final round. It was highly commendable that Chess Kenya took robust precautions in this year’s event against match-fixing and cheating.

Disabled players

Chess Kenya also took further strides towards inclusivity by having People Living with Disability Awards.

Dr Victor Ng'ani presents People Living with Disability Awards. Top left Johnson Njeru, bottom left Alfred Simiyu, top right Robert Ndirangu, and bottom right Ali Sadam. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
Dr Victor Ng’ani presents People Living with Disability Awards. Top left Johnson Njeru, bottom left Alfred Simiyu, top right Robert Ndirangu, and bottom right Ali Sadam. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Dr Victor Ng’ani presents People Living with Disability Awards. Top left Johnson Njeru, bottom left Alfred Simiyu, top right Robert Ndirangu, and bottom right Ali Sadam. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Notable players

Rodgers Adai represented Kenya in the 1986 Olympiad and has not played actively for over 15 years.  He ended up with an impressive 6 points out of 9 games!

Rodgers Adai in action during the 2019 Kenya National Chess Championship. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
Rodgers Adai in action during the 2019 Kenya National Chess Championship. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Nathan Ateka is a former Kenya National Champion and Olympiad player who stopped playing competitively around 2001. He obtained 7.5 points to end up in joint 2nd place!

Nathan Ateka in action during the 2019 Kenya National Chess Championship. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
Nathan Ateka in action during the 2019 Kenya National Chess Championship. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

I guess both Rodgers Adai and Nathan Ateka genuinely belong to the ‘Batsfords Generation‘!

Robert Mcligeyo, a 14-year-old student from Logos Christian School is worthy of special mention. He put up an impressive performance in the Open section by obtaining 5 points.

Winners List

OPEN SECTION

  1. Gohil Mehul (2090) 23 points The Car + Shield.
  2. Ben Nguku (2018) 22 points Shield + KES 137,500.
  3. Victor Ngani (1986) 22 points Shield + KES 112,500.
  4. Jackson Ndegwa (1958) 21 points KES 66,600.
  5. Lawrence Kagambi (1800) 21 points KES 51,600.
  6. Nathan Ateka (2126) 21 points KES 41,600.
  7. Martin Njoroge (1828) 20 points KES 25,000.
  8. Githinji Hinga (1951) 19 points KES 17,500.
  9. FM Steve Ouma (1923) 19 points KES 15,000.
  10. Trevor Mulindi (1722) 19 points KES 12,500.

Best University Student

Lenox Mangi (1578) of Technical University of Kenya. – KES 5,000 + Laptop.

Players who qualified to Final Phase are:

  1. Gohil Mehul (2019 Kenya National Champion).
  2. James Kabui (Top Under 21 Player).

LADIES SECTION

  1. WCM Lucy Wanjiru (1543) 22 points Shield + KES 100,000 + Laptop.
  1. WCM Joyce Nyaruai (1653) 19 points Shield + KES 68,750.
  1. WFM Sasha Mongeli (1550) 19 points Shield + KES 56,250.
  1. Naiya Gosrani (1412) 18 points KES 30,000.
  1. Madelta Glenda (1380) 17 points KES 20,000.
  1. Daphne Mwikali (1561) 16 points KES 12,900.
  1. Vivian Muthoni (1373) 16 points KES 10,400.
  1. Francisca Kagwiria (1179) 16 points KES 9,150.
  1. Caroline Njeri 15 points KES 4,000.
  1. Evelyne Gichuru (1553) 15 points KES 4,000.
  1. Cheryl Ngima (1339) 15 points KES 4,000.

Best University Student (Lady)

Nicole Albright Ogaga (1071) of JKUAT –  KES 5,000. + Laptop.

Players who qualified to Final Phase

  1. WCM Lucy Wanjiru (2019 Kenya National Ladies Champion).
  2. Naiya Gosrani (Top Under 21 Player).
People Living With Disability Awards

Open

1. Ali Sadam – Shield + KES 20,000.

2. Robert Ndirangu – Shield + KES 15,000.

3. Alfred Simiyu – Shield + KES 10,000.

4. Johnson Njeru – KES 5,000.

Ladies

1. Mary Nduku – KES 15,000.

2. Ivine Boke – KES 10,000.

Elo Ratings Awards

Adai Rodgers – Below 1700 – KES 10,000.
Stephen Kariuki (1545) – Below 1600 – KES 10,000.
Glen Oruke (1457) – Below 1500 – KES 10,000.
Kevin Riungu – Below 1400 – KES 10,000.

Youth Section Awards

Cadet Section

Top Boys

  1. Austin Mwiti – Trophy + Shopping Voucher.
  2. CM Odongo Lwanga – Medal + Shopping Voucher.
  3. Samuel Wanjala – Medal + Shopping Voucher.

Top Girls

  1. Elizabeth Cassidy – Trophy + Shopping Voucher.
  2. Cherise Gacheri – Trophy + Shopping Voucher.
  3. Fantalis Nduta – Trophy + Shopping Voucher.

Junior Section

Top Boys:

  1. CM Aguda Lwanga – Shield + Shopping Voucher.
  2. Doshi Rahul – Medal + Shopping Voucher.
  3. Dheerav Shah – Medal + Shopping Voucher.

Top Girl

  1. Dorcus Wanjala – Shield + Shopping Voucher.

Olympiad Qualifiers to 2nd stage

The top 24 players in Open Section  who qualified to 2nd Phase.

  1. Ben Nguku.
  2. Victor Ngani.
  3. Nathan Ateka.
  4. Jackson Kamau.
  5. Lawrence Kagambi.
  6. Martin Njoroge.
  7. Githinji Hinga.
  8. FM Steve Ouma.
  9. Trevor Mulindi.
  10. Geoffrey Mulaga.
  11. CM Ben Magana.
  12. Adai Rodgers.
  13. Lenox Mangi.
  14. Maxwell Juma.
  15. Stephen Kariuki.
  16. Moses Abasa.
  17. Joseph Methu.
  18. Matthew Kanegeni.
  19. Amos Simiyu.
  20. Brian Adorwa.
  21. John Milton Mwangi.
  22. Ricky Sang.
  23. Daniel Gisore.
  24. Glen Oruke.

Top 24 Players in Ladies Section who qualified to 2nd Phase.

  1. WCM Joyce Nyaruai.
  2. WFM Sasha Mongeli.
  3. Madelta Glenda.
  4. Daphne Mwikali.
  5. Vivian Muthoni.
  6. Francisca Kagwiria.
  7. Caroline Njeri.
  8. Evelyne Wanjiru.
  9. Nicole Albright.
  10. Cheryl Ngima.
  11. Triza Mwendwa.
  12. Mable Kawa.
  13. Metrine Nyaboke.
  14. Lily Robi Shile.
  15. Maureen Kirigo.
  16. Christine Muthoni.
  17. WCM Janki Nipul Shah.
  18. Annette Kimwere.
  19. Agnes Thuo.
  20. Ednah Odhiambo.
  21. Cynthia Obondo.
  22. Amy Mumo.
  23. Mercy Ingado.
  24. Elsie Muturi.

Links

Standings & Results of the 2019 Kenya National

2019 Kenya National Chess Championship Day 4.

PGNs for Open Section rounds 1 to 9.

PGNs for Ladies Section rounds 1 to 9.

2019 Kenya National Chess Championship Day 3.

2019 Kenya National Chess Championship -Rules & Regulations.

Joseph Methu wins 2019 Kenya Open.

Video of Closing Ceremony 2018 Kenya National Chess Championship.

Day 4 – 2018 Kenya National Chess Championship.

Day 3 – 2018 Kenya National Chess Championship.

2018 Kenya National Chess Championship standings and results.

Day 2 – 2018 Kenya National Chess Championship.

Day 1 – 2018 Kenya National Chess Championship.

 

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