The Ultimate Terrian Challenge
The Ultimate Terrian Challenge is one of the most anticipated chess matches this year. An exciting 4 round match is taking part on 19th & 20th December 2020.
The two combatants in this highly anticipated match are poles apart in their characteristics. Ben Nguku, a supply chain specialist by profession, is the polite boy next door who lets his chess do the talking. Mehul Gohil, on the other hand, is the brash and tough-talking 2019 Kenya National Chess Champion.
Mehul Gohil drew against Ben Nguku in the last round of the 2019 Kenya National Champion to drive off with his Mazda Demio as first prize. Ben Nguku is thus seeking sweet revenge for that painful draw that snatched the 2019 national crown from his hand.
Ben Nguku is rated 2056 while Mehul is 73 points lower at 1983. Both contestants have impressive CV’s.
Mehul Gohil is two times Kenya National Champion (2014 and 2019) and has represented Kenya at the Olympiad (2012) and the All Africa Games (1998 & 2019). He is one of the only two Kenyans who have defeated a Grandmaster. This happened during the 2019 Zone 4.2 Chess Championship when Mehul Gohil outplayed GM Essam El Gindy of Egypt.
Ben Nguku, on the other hand, has represented Kenya at the 2004 Olympiad and was the winner of the 2016 Kenya Open.
The prize fund is the winner take all KES 40,000 (USD 400) and the venue is Trade Mark Hotel located at the Village Market.
Fireworks on Facebook
Mehul Gohil set off fireworks on Facebook by thrash talking Ben Nguku (calling him ‘Kuku’ which means chicken in Swahili). Even Ben’s good friend FM Prince Daniel Mulenga, who is a top player from Zambia, was not spared from Mehul’s caustic remarks!
From Mehul Gohil’s post;
Ben Kuku’s alleged trainer, Prince Danailov Mujengere is a poor judge of the chess styles of top Kenyan players. It is no wonder he is not in the class of AK-47, Jere and the Copper Eagle…all three of whom have a far more discerning chess eye.
The Zambian Mujengere has been shouting praises of the chess style of Kenyan’s perennial No.2 player. Here are some of these shouting stuff….with my succinct prognosis (in capital letters) of his baseless analysis:
A: Kuku is a ‘natural’: FALSE
B: Gorilla is champion as ‘fluke’: FALSE
C: Kuku has imagination, flair and whatnot: FALSE
D: Gorilla, Methu Gilruth are over-reliant on pre-programmed strategies: FALSE
E: Kuku will win match: FALSE
Ben Kuku’s alleged trainer, Prince Danailov Mujengere is a poor judge of the chess styles of top Kenyan players. It is no wonder he is not in the class of AK-47, Jere and the Copper Eagle…all three of whom have a far more discerning chess eye.
The Zambian Mujengere has been shouting praises of the chess style of Kenyan’s perennial No.2 player. Here are some of these shouting stuff….with my succinct prognosis (in capital letters) of his baseless analysis:
A: Kuku is a ‘natural’: FALSE
B: Gorilla is champion as ‘fluke’: FALSE
C: Kuku has imagination, flair and whatnot: FALSE
D: Gorilla, Methu Gilruth are over-reliant on pre-programmed strategies: FALSE
E: Kuku will win match: FALSE
FM Prince Daniel Mulenga who is rated 2316 refused to take this lying down and immediately put out his abrasive response.
Comments have come in from far and wide and include some Grandmasters as well! This is what GM Daivd Smerdon had to say.
Troubled times
The Covid pandemic has had a devastating effect on Kenyan chess. All events have been cancelled by the Sports Ministry in an effort to stem the rising number of cases.
The Ultimate Terrian Challenge will therefore be a welcome relief to Kenyan chess players who are looking forward to some exctiing games.
Organisers
Terrian Chess Africa are the organisers of the match. You can follow the live games from the Ultimate Terrian Challenge on Follow Chess.
