Kenya Premier Chess League takes off The Kenya Premier Chess League got off to a grand start with a total of 32 teams taking part. This year’s edition has two divisions (Elite and Super) with 16 teams each.
The same format has been retained with each team having twelve players. Matches are played across five boards of which one must be a lady.
The venue for the first four matches was the NYS Engineering Campus along Thika Road.
Photo of the playing hall during round 1 of the 2020 Kenya Premier Chess League at the NYS Engineering Campus. Photo credit Kim Bhari. KCB Chess Club who won the 2019 KPCL edition Olympiad Qualifiers
From left Brian Chege and Chris Maina of JKUAT in action during the Kenya Premier Chess League. Photo credit Kim Bhari. Team line ups Equity Bank Chess Club has also retained the same line up as 2019. Anchor Chess Club who ended up in 2nd place has beefed up their squad with two more Ugandans. Walter Okas and Andrew Mageni have joined their compatriot Mike Akabo in this formidable squad.
Mika Akabo of Uganda who plays for Anchor Chess Club. Photo credit Kim Bhari. Nairobi Chess Academy and Club have also signed up two Ugandans in their team. These include CM Bob Bibasa and Simon Gonza .
Nairobi Chess Club has signed up Artem Gurevich who is Kenya’s highest-ranked player at 2185 in their bid to win a maiden League title. He is registered with the Canadian Chess Federation but is currently residing in Kenya.
Artem Gurevich who has joined Nairobi Chess Club. Photo credit Kim Bhari. WFM Sanjana Deshpande another top lady player has joined up with Nairobi Chess Club . She was the winner of the 2014 Kenya National Ladies Championship
Nairobi Chess Club team pose for a group photo before the start of round 1. From left Artem Gurevich, Vasanth Ramesh, Roberto Villuela, Pranjal Parikh and WFM Sanjana Deshpande. Photo credit Kim Bhari. Transfer Market This year’s edition has the newly approved transfer market. Corporate teams pay KES 20,000 (USD 200) as a minimum fee for a player. Other teams pay KES 3,000 (USD 30).
Glenda Madelta made history by being the first player to make such a move from Nairobi Chess Club to Equity Bank Chess Club . Nairobi Chess Club has also lost the services of Mehul Gohil who moved to Nakuru Chess Club .
Glenda Madelta in action during the 2019 Kenya Open. Photo credit Kim Bhari. Nairobi Chess Club got off to a dream start with four wins over the first weekend of matches. They defeated Strathmore University and Trojan Warriors 5-0 and 4-1 respectively on Saturday. On Sunday they returned to their winning ways by defeating University of Nairobi and Victoria Chess Club by 3.5-1.5 and 4-1 respectively.
Roselyn Wambui and Adan Mohammed both Strathmore University in action. Photo credit Kim Bhari. Moses Amatalo (Victoria Chess Club) v Jean-Baka Domelevo (Nairobi Chess Club)
[Event "Kenya Premier Chess League"]
[Site "NYS Engineering School, Nairobi, Kenya"]
[Date "2020.03.01"]
[Round "4"]
[Board "3"]
[White "Amatalo, Moses Abasa"]
[Black "Domelevo Entfellner, Jean-Baka"]
[Result "0-1"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8. Nd5 Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12.
Nc2 Bg5 13. Nce3 Ne7 14. Qh5 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 Bb7 16. Bd3 Ng6 17. g3 Rc8 18. Bc2 Qb6 19. Rd1 Rfe8 20. Qg4 Rcd8 21. h4 Ne7 22.
Bb3 Bc8 23. Qf3 Be6 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. exd5 Bc8 26. O-O f5 27. Rde1 Rf8 28. Qh5 Rf6 29. Bc2 Rdf8 30. Kh2 Qd8 31. f4 e4 32.
Qe2 Rg6 33. Qe3 Qa5 34. a3 Qc7 35. Bb3 a5 36. Rc1 Ba6 37. Rfd1 Rc8 38. Qd4 a4 39. Ba2 Qb7 40. Kh3 Re8 41. Re1 Rf6 42. c4
b4 43. c5 dxc5 44. Rxc5 b3 45. Bb1 Qb6 46. Qxa4 Ra8 47. Rc6 Bf1+ 48. Rxf1 Rxa4 49. Rxb6 Rxb6 50. Rd1 Rd6 51. g4 g6 52. h5
Ra5 53. hxg6 hxg6 54. Rg1 Kf7 55. Rg3 Rb6 56. Rc3 Rxd5 57. Rc7+ Ke8 58. Rc4 Rd1 59. Bxe4 fxe4 60. Rxe4+ Kf7 61. a4 Rd2 62.
a5 Rb8 ( 62... Ra6 63. Re5 Rxb2 64. Rb5 Rb1 65. Kh4 b2 66. Kg5 Rxa5 67. Rxa5 Ra1 68. Rc5) 63. Rc4 Rxb2
64. Rc7+ Kf8 65. a6 Ra8 66. a7 Ra2 67. Rb7 R2xa7 68. Rxb3 Ra3 69. Rxa3 Rxa3+ 70. Kh4 Rf3 71. Kg5 Kf7 72. f5 gxf5 73. gxf5
Rf1 74. f6 Rxf6 75. Kg4 Kg6 76. Kh4 Rf4+ 77. Kg3 Kg5 78. Kh3 Rf3+ 79. Kg2 Kg4 80. Kh1 Kg3 81. Kg1 Rf7 0-1
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Austin Okeyo of Victoria Chess Club in action. Photo credit Kim Bhari. Austin Okeyo (Victoria Chess Club) v Vasanth Ramesh (Nairobi Chess Club)
[Event "2020 Kenya Premier Chess League, Elite Division"]
[Site "NYS Engineering School, Nairobi, Kenya"]
[Date "2020.03.01"]
[Round ""]
[White "Austin Okeyo"]
[Black "Vasanth Ramesh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "9000+30"]
1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 {The Panov Attack in the Caro-Kann Defence}
4... Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Nc6 {While this is not the most popular move here,
it’s certainly respectable. Other choices would be:} (6... Bb4) (6... Be7) 7.
Be2 {This, on the other hand, is poorly regarded. The Bishop doesn’t do enough
here. More reputable options include shutting down the b4 square with a3,
developing aggressively with Bg5, or fixing the pawn structure to White’s
benefit with c5.} (7. a3) (7. Bg5) (7. c5) 7... h6 {Too worried about the White
Bishop. Black should either get ready to castle with …Be7, or stick White
with an isolated pawn after …dxc4.} (7... Be7) (7... dxc4 8. Bxc4) 8. O-O Bd6
{Trying to stop the White Bishop from getting to f4.} 9. cxd5 {Well, this is
certainly a choice. White expects that Black will have difficultly defending
the d5 pawn, and will get tied down trying to do so. A bit more in keeping with
the spirit of the opening is:} (9. c5) 9... exd5 10. Qb3 O-O {This is safe. The
pawn is indirectly protected.} 11. Be3 {Defending the d-pawn while setting up a
barrier on the e-file. Note that picking the d5 pawn fails to a discovered
attack:} (11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Bxh2+ 13. Kxh2 Qxd5) 11... Na5 {Kicking the
Queen back, though this is probably too committal. This Knight will get stuck
out here for a while. It was probably better to play …Re8 first.} (11... Re8)
12. Qc2 {Retreating is best. Qb5 only helps Black develop.} (12. Qb5 Bd7) 12...
Bd7 {Controlling the b5 square, but this isn’t the best spot for the Bishop.}
13. Ne5 {This is the issue. White’s Knight wants to be here anyway.} 13... Rc8
{Developing by pinning White’s Knight to help defend the d-pawn is better than
moving the Bishop twice, but this gives White the advantage of the two Bishops.}
14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Bd3 {Shifting to a more aggressive position.} 15... Rb8
{Preparing to push the b-pawn.} 16. Qe2 {Fighting for the b5 square, and getting
access to the kingside.} 16... a6 {Still fighting for the b5 square, but the
threat has shifted to the kingside. Best was …Ng4 to try to trade off the
dark-squared Bishop.} (16... Ng4) 17. Qf3 {Not only putting pressure on the
d-pawn, but threatening Bxh6 gxh6, Qxf6.} 17... Qg4 {Not the only way to play,
but the safest as it preserves the defences around the Black King.} 18. Qxg4
{This also was not forced. White could have tried to keep the pressure on the
d-pawn with:} (18. Be2 Qxf3 19. Bxf3) 18... Nxg4 19. Nxd5 {By letting the Knight
be lured forward, Black gives up the d-pawn. But in return, White’s h-pawn
goes.} 19... Nxh2 {The other capture was a bit better, as it vacates the
d-file.} (19... Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Rfd8) 20. Rfd1 Ng4 21. Bd2 {Given the choice,
White shouldn’t give a Bishop for a Knight.} 21... Nc6 22. f3 {This is the
problem with Black’s play. By moving the Knights out of position, White gets to
try to force this Knight back to f6, where it can be traded off, winning White a
pawn.} 22... Nf6 {And yet, there was some tactical trickery available:} (22...
Bh2+ 23. Kf1 (23. Kh1 Nf2+ 24. Kxh2 Nxd3) 23... Rfd8) 23. Nxf6+ {Defender
removal, as well as just breaking up the defences around Black’s King.} 23...
gxf6 24. Bxh6 {White goes up a pawn.} 24... Rfe8 {The d-file was a bit better,
trying to round up White’s weakest pawn.} (24... Rfd8) 25. d5 {While passed
pawns want to be pushed, it’s also easier to defend them before they advance.
So Be4 was safer.} (25. Be4) 25... Nb4 {This forks White’s pawn and Bishop, but
it’s easy to defend both. More to the point, Black needed to know what to do
about a3 before making this move.} 26. Be4 Rbd8 {The c-file was better,
temporarily securing c2 for the Knight.} (26... Rbc8) 27. a3 f5 {The only
reasonable way to defend is by counterattacking the Bishop.} 28. Bg5 {Black’s
idea is shown below. White decides not to go for this, instead threatening to
win the exchange. Unfortunately, he probably didn’t calculate far enough…}
(28. Bxf5 Bc5+ 29. Kh1 Nxd5) 28... fxe4 {Forced. Definitely not:} (28... Rd7
29. Bxf5) (28... Be7 29. Bxe7 Rxe7 30. d6 Re5 31. Bxb7) 29. Bxd8 {After axb4
White has too many weak pawns to hold on to all of them:} (29. axb4 Rd7) 29...
Nc2 {The reason Black escapes. He threatens to win back the exchange, which
means White has to spend time reacting.} 30. Rac1 Ne3 {Renewing the threat.} 31.
Re1 {Better was to just accept that White couldn’t hold on to the exchange:}
(31. Bb6 Nxd1 32. Rxd1) 31... Rxd8 {The Knight is immune.} 32. Rxe3 Bf4 {This is
the move White missed and Black had to see. Because the Knight ended up on a
dark square, this skewer was possible, guaranteeing that Black gets back the
material.} 33. Rce1 Bxe3+ 34. Rxe3 exf3 {Since White never got time to recapture
this, Black also gets back the pawn. As both the d- and g-pawns are threatened,
both sides will stay equal on material.} 35. Re5 {The more active way to defend,
but I suspect Rd3 would have given better chances.} (35. Rd3) 35... fxg2 36.
Kxg2 f6 {This is White’s challenge. Since the Rook is so far advanced, Black
gets to attack it while activating the King and f-pawn.} 37. Rf5 Kf7 38. Kf3 Kg6
39. Kg4 {White’s in a bit of trouble. The Rook is tied down, and trading Rooks
is bad — the d-pawn is easier to round up, and Black’s passed pawn is farther
away from the queenside than White’s, so Black would win.} 39... Rc8
{Threatening …Rc4+ to trade Rooks.} 40. Rf4 Rd8 {Going back after the d-pawn.}
41. Rd4 f5+ {Getting a bit of space to maneuvre back towards the centre of the
board.} 42. Kf4 Kf6 {White is running low on moves. The Rook can’t leave the
d-file, and the King can’t move without allowing …Ke5 and …Rxd5.} 43. a4
{There’s a risk this will be easier to round up later.} 43... Rh8 {With the
threat of …Rh4+ to force a Rook trade.} 44. Rd2 Rh4+ {Also, pushing the White
King back to give access to the e5 square.} 45. Kg3 Rg4+ {Staying focused on the
d-pawn, though the Rook could have gotten back in time after picking off the
a-pawn:} (45... Rxa4 46. d6 Rg4+ 47. Kf3 Rg8) 46. Kf3 Ke7 {Moving over to
blockade the d-pawn.} 47. b3 Kd6 48. Rd3 Re4 {On its way to e5 to pick off the
d-pawn.} 49. Kg3 Re5 50. Kf4 Rxd5 51. Rh3 {The Black King is faster to the
queenside after:} (51. Rxd5+ Kxd5 52. Kxf5) 51... Kc5 {Preparing to head over to
pick off some pawns on the queenside.} 52. Rh7 b5 {Looking to simplify the
position. The idea is that after a pawn trade, Black could capture the
remaining White pawn, creating a second passed pawn.} 53. axb5 {Ra7 would offer
more resistance.} (53. Ra7 Kb6 54. Rf7) 53... axb5 54. Rh3 Kb4 {Interesting
little position here. It looks like all the pieces are tied down and it’s
difficult to make progress, but Black’s extra pawn means he’s free to threaten
trades and White isn’t.} 55. Rg3 {Black isn’t threatening to round up the
f-pawn, because of Rg5 Kxb3.} 55... Rc5 {On the other hand, …Rc3 is a big
problem for White.} 56. Rh3 Rc3 57. Rh5 {Again, White can’t trade:} (57. Rxc3
Kxc3 58. Kxf5 Kxb3) 57... Rxb3 {The other capture would be a bit faster:} (57...
Kxb3 58. Rxf5 b4) 58. Rxf5 Rd3 {Cutting the White King off. This is important
— White could draw if the King got in front of Black’s pawn.} 59. Ke4 Rd8
{Black can now escort the pawn to the b2 square.} 60. Ke3 {Rf1 to get in front
of the pawn would at least ask Black to show a bit more technique.} (60. Rf1)
60... Kc4 61. Rf7 {Trying to defend from behind. Note that checking from the
side runs into two problems. First, the White King gets in the way. And
second, the Black King can get to the a-file and use the advancing pawn to
block.} 61... Kb3 62. Rb7 b4 {This is the idea. The Black King does a little
zig-zag, ending up two squares in front of the pawn. Then the pawn moves
forward.} 63. Ke2 Kc3 64. Rc7+ Kb3 {Not sure why Black decided to repeat here.}
65. Rb7 Kc3 66. Rc7+ Kb2 67. Rb7 b3 68. Rb6 Rd4 {This works, but it’s quite a
bit more complicated than the book position after playing:} (68... Kc2 69. Rc6+
Kb1 70. Rb6 b2) 69. Ke3 Rd5 {This is where the Rook wants to be to stop White’s
checks once the King moves away from the front of the pawn.} 70. Rb8 Kc3 71.
Rc8+ Kb4 72. Rh8 {Black had to see that White can’t stop the pawn after:} (72.
Rb8+ Rb5 73. Rxb5+ Kxb5 74. Kd2 Kb4 75. Kc1 Ka3 76. Kb1 b2 77. Kc2 Ka2) 72... b2
{Again, not the usual way this goes. This works because White’s King position
stops Rh3 from cutting the Black King away from the pawn.} 73. Rh4+ {Checking
the King where it wants to go.} 73... Kb3 74. Rh1 Ka2 {Now White can’t stop
promotion.} 75. Ke4 {Or:} (75. Rh8 Ra5) 75... Rd8 76. Rh2 {This pin also doesn’t
work.} 76... Ka1 {And the pawn promotes next move.} 0-1
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Links Standings and Results of the 2019 Kenya Premier Chess League.
Equity Bank win 2018 Kenya League title.
Equity Bank win 2017 Kenya League title.
