Dominic Nyonje wins Kisumu Open
Dominic Nyonje of Kisii University is the 2021 Kisumu Open Rapid Chess Champion.
He beat four-time national champion CM Ben Magana to win the tournament’s top prize over the weekend.
Dominic Nyonje edged out CM Ben Magana in round four to finish top with six points. On his way, he defeated well known Evans Sinoya and Dr Jacob Onditi.
CM Ben Magana also had 6 points but had an inferior tie-break and hence took second place. Dominic Nyoge and CM Ben Magana equally shared the top two cash prizes fund of KES 16,000 (USD 160).
CM Ben Magana v Dominic Nyonge
Forty-four players battled it out in the first post-Covid chess tournament held in the city of Kisumu. The venue was the famous Scottish Tartan Hotel, a favourite of chess organisers in the city.
CM Ben Magana v Evans Sinoya
Fun facts about Kisumu
Kisumu is Kenya’s third-largest city, situated on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is known locally as ‘Nam Sango‘ or ‘Nam Lolwe‘.
Its name is from the Luo word ‘kisuma‘, a derivative of ‘sumo‘, which means barter trade.
It grew into a town after the Mombasa Railway line passed through it in 1901.
The new town was named Port Florence after Florence Preston, the wife of the senior railway’s engineer. In 1903 the town was renamed Kisumu.
Kisumu was also privileged to host the first air flight in East and Central Africa. An inaugural maiden flight from Kisumu to England took place in 1931.
In 1965 Grace Onyango was elected mayor of Kisumu town, becoming the first woman mayor in Africa.
Links
Standings & Results of the 2021 Kisumu Open Rapid Chess Championship.
Austin Walela wins Kitengela Open.
