The 2022 African Amateur Chess Championship got underway yesterday in Kenya’s second-biggest city Mombasa. A total of just over 100 players from fifteen African federations are taking part in this prestigious event.
The event, which is taking place at the Mombasa Continental Resort, started on 27th November and runs until 3rd December 2022.
Mombasa Continental Resort the venue of the 2022 African Amateur Chess Championship. Photo credit Isaac Pelnino.
The Open section has three groups: the U2300, U2000 and U1700, while the Ladies’ section has the U1700 and a combined U2300 & U2000.
Kenya is fielding the largest contingent with 34 players, with CM Ben Magana and RobertOluka Mcligeyo leading the team in the U2300 section. WFM Sasha Mongeli and WCM Joyce Nyaruai are leading the Kenyan challenge in the Ladies’ section.
Martin Njoroge (1973), the 2021 Kenya National Champion, is in the U2000 section and is the second-ranked player, just behind Cyril Chigodo (1983) of Zimbabwe.
Abubaker Tagelsir of Sudan is the top-ranked player in the U2300 section.
A section of players relaxing by the beach.
Prize Fund
In addition to a modest cash prize fund, the winners in each section will earn personal rights to play in the 2023 World Amateur Chess Championship with free boarding and lodging.
The prize fund.
Robert Oluka Mcliegeyo won his first game against CM Emmanuel Egesa of Uganda and dismissed top seed Abubaker Tagelsir of Sudan in the second round.
Article by Kenya Chess Masala.
