CM John Mukabi grabs bronze medal in Seniors + 50 Category
CM John Mukabi made Kenya proud when he won a bronze medal at the just concluded African Online Individual Chess Championship.
The event had just over 150 players who were using the Tornelo platform for the event.
Mukabi scored an impressive 5.5 points out of 9 rounds in the Senor’s S50 category. Charles De Villiers of South Africa won the gold medal with 8.5 points. Zohier Slami of Morocco won the silver medal with 6.5 points.
The prize fund for the Seniors S50 category was USD 2,250 with the winner taking home USD 1,000. Zohier Slami was richer by USD 750 while CM John Mukbai took home USD 500.
This section had 9 participants.
CM John Mukabi is a veteran and has the East African record of playing in a total of 7 Chess Olympiads! In the game shown below John Mukabi managed to hold eventual winner Charles De Villiers of South Africa to a draw.
Charles De Villiers v CM John Mukabi
Women’s Section
This section had a total of 32 participants with six players from Kenya!
WFM Riya Shah was the best placed Kenya with 6 points out of 9 rounds. She ended in joint 5th place but 6th in standing.
WIM Amina Mezioud of Algeria was the clear winner with 8 points and she won an impressive cash prize of USD 2,000. Sabrina Latreche of Algeria was second with 7.5 points and won a cash prize of USD 1,000. Khadija Latreche also of Algeria was third with 7 points and she went home with USD 750.
WCM Lucy Wanjiru, WCM Joyce Nyaruai, Sasha Maingi, Madelta Glenda and Saloni Karania were the other Kenyans who took part in this section.
Open Section
The Open Section was totally dominated by players from North Africa. GM Adly Ahmed of Egypt was the winner with 7.5 points out of 9 rounds. He went home with a cash prize of USD 3,000.
GM Bassem Amin also of Egypt was runner’s up with 7 points and he won a cash prize of USD 2,000.
Another player from North Africa GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algeria was third with 6.5 points. He won USD 916 for his efforts.
FM Harold Wanyama was the top player from East Africa with 5.5 points and 13th in standing. Here is an interesting game between FM Harold Wanyama and FM Dante Buekes of Namibia.
FM Dante Buekes v FM Harold Wanyama
Elvis Likoko was the top player from Kenyan with an impressive 4.5 points and 23rd in standing.
Philip Singe, Ricky Sang, Philip Mwashe, Mehul Gohil, Jackson Kamau and Martin Njoroge were the other Kenyans taking part in the Open section.
Kenya National Chess Champion Mehul Gohil found himself in unfamiliar territory with 4.5 points and 25th in standing.
Mehul Gohil v IM Fy Atnenaina Rakotomaharo
A total of 47 players took part in this section.
Team Kenya
It was interesting to note that IM Arthur Ssegwangyi of Uganda was recruited to train Team Kenya who were staying at the plush Villa Rose Kempinsky Hotel in Nairobi!
Cash prizes
The event was a great success with just over 150 participants taking part despite the perceived high entry fee of USD 60. The total cash prizes awarded came to a whopping USD 16,000.
Links
CM John Mukabi wins 2016 TUK Open.
