Sajid Nurmohamed Crowned Unofficial Mombasa Blitz Chess Champion
Tudor resident Sajid Nurmohamed continued to show excellent form in the post-Covid era of OTB (over-the-board) chess by winning the 2021 Mombasa Blitz Chess Championship with 10.5 points from 12 rounds on Sunday, 28th November at Khadija Secondary School.
Neither sultry weather nor fellow rated players were able to stop the Sajid juggernaut at Khadija Secondary School where he has now won three back-to-back tournaments since the Pre Mombasa Open Practice event held in early October. His path to a 100% score of 12 points was hindered by a draw against Mombasa Chess Club chairman Paul Ombui and a loss to Pwani Chess Club founder Kosi Danford in the third and seventh rounds respectively.
Following Sajid in second place was Paul Ombui who last played in a FIDE-rated tournament in 2019 while representing Mombasa Chess Club in the national league. His 9 points came from 8 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. The draws were against Sajid Nurmohamed and Jackson Kalema in the third and tenth rounds respectively and the loss was against Samuel Wafula in the fourth round.
In third place was Moses Lukoko, also of Mombasa Chess Club, who finished with 8.5 points and a better tiebreak score ahead of three other players who also had the same number of points. His single draw was against Samuel Wafula in the eighth round while his three losses were against Sajid Nurmohamed, Paul Ombui, and James Njuguna Mwangi in the second, sixth, and tenth rounds respectively.
All prize winners were as follows:
- 1st Place – Sajid Nurmohamed (LHCC) 10.5 pts
- 2nd Place – Paul Ombui (MCC) 9 pts
- 3rd Place – Moses Lukoko (MCC) 8.5 pts
- Best University Player – Samuel Wafula (TUM) 7.5 pts
- Best Female Player – Genevieve Maashao (LHCC) 6 pts
- Best Junior Player (U18) – Moses Bejon (OAM) 6 pts
- Best Khadija Secondary School Player – Allan Masinde (KSS) 6 pts
Prize winners received cash ranging in amounts from KES 1,250 to KES 300.
A total of 30 players from the 32 who had registered were able to play their games on Sunday. The largest contingent of 12 players was from Khadija Secondary School of which two were teachers and the rest students. Mombasa Chess Club had the second-largest contingent with six players led by the chairman himself.
Private clubs represented included Mombasa Chess Club (MCC), Lighthouse Chess Club (LHCC), and Pwani Chess Club (PCC). Tertiary learning institutes represented included Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), Kenya Coast National Polytechnic (KCNP), and South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU). Schools represented included hosts Khadija Secondary School (KSS) and Oshwal Academy Mombasa (OAM).
The tournament saw 12 junior players aged 18 and under and 4 female players participating with a good balance between youth and experience.
Players who received their FIDE Blitz ratings from this tournament:
- Sajid Nurmohamed – 1734
- Kosi Danford – 1586
- Samuel Wafula – 1582
- Jackson Kioko Kalema – 1575
- Paul Ombui – 1532
- Moses Lukoko – 1505
- James Njuguna Mwangi – 1502
- Samuel Macharia Mwangi – 1425
- Samuel Nderitu Ndumia – 1091
The organising team of the 2021 Mombasa Blitz Chess Championship comprised Paras Gudka and Jackson Kioko Kalema and the arbitration team was composed of IA Paras Gudka and NA Thayu Macharia Kinuthia.
Playing alongside the bosses of Mombasa and Pwani chess clubs was Torre & Cavallo Chess Club founder Walter Corrarello, who will be introducing his chess club by the beach to coast chess players with the Torre & Cavallo Closed Blitz Championship on Saturday, 11th December at The New Big Tree Beach Resort, Bamburi.
Article by Paras Gudka and photos by Samuel Nderitu Ndumia.
Related links:
- Final ranking (Chess-Results)
Chess Book Shop
