Elizabeth Cassidy Maina wins silver medal in continental event
Elizabeth Cassidy Maina is the proud winner of a silver medal in the Girls U10 at the just concluded 2021 African Youth Chess Championship. She drew her last game against Suresh Aaradhy of South Africa to obtain 6.5 and grab the silver medal. Suresh Aaradhy also had 6.5 points but with an inferior tie-break and was hence relegated to a bronze medal.
Deborah Quickpen of Nigeria was the winner with 7 points out of 9 rounds.
Gikandi Bernice Wambui of Kenya obtained a respectably 6 points to end up in joint 3rd place but 6th in the ranking. Kamoni Elsie Wambui, also of Kenya, got 2 points. It is interesting to note that this was Elizabeth Cassidy Maina’s first international competition as a national player.
Kenya failed to win any medals in the other age categories.
The event, which ran from 19th to 25th September 2021, had over 140 players from twelve federations.
Elizabeth Cassidy Maina va Kamoni Elsie Wambui
Kenya score card at the African Youth Chess Championships
Kenya has, over the years, had reasonable success in the African Youth Chess Championships.
2020 – Event not held due to Covid.
2019 – Kenya failed to bag any medals.
2018 – Kenya won four bronze medals and was the host of this year’s edition in Kisumu. The medals were won by WCM Janvi Nipul Shah in the Girls U8 and Naiya Gosrani in the Girls U14. Pranjal Ameetkumar Parikh in the Girls U18 and Dev Bijesh Shah in the Boys U18 were the other two bronze medal winners.
2017 – Fathima Mohideen Mohamed won a gold medal in the Girls U12.
2016 – Kenya failed to bag any medals.
2015 – Sanjana Deshpande won a bronze medal in the Ladies U18 and Aravind Vengarai in the Boys U14.
2014 & 2013 – Kenya did not participate.
2012 – Riya Shah won a bronze medal.
Links
Standings & Results 2021 African Youth Chess Championship.
Kenya National Youth Team off to 2021 African Youth Chess Tournament.
An article on the 2021 African Youth Championship by Kenya Chess Masala.
2019 African Youth Chess Championship.
2018 African Youth Chess Championship.
Kisumu town all set for 2018 African Youth Chess Championship.
Recap of the 2016 African Youth Chess Championship.
Update on 2015 African Youth Chess Championship.
Kenya bags two bronze medals at the 2015 African Youth Chess Championship.