Macligeyo & WCM Nyaruai off for the 2023 African Individual Chess

Robert Macligeyo and Joyce Nyaruai off for the 2023 African Individual Chess Championship

Robert Mcligeyo and WCM Joyce Nyaruai are Kenya’s representatives in the 2023 African Individual Chess Championship, which start today in Cairo, Egypt. The two were the winners of the gruelling three-phase selection event to select the Kenya team.

The tournament is a World Cup qualifier for both the Open and Ladies’ Sections. FIDE granted Africa four slots, with one already taken by Egyptian star GM Amin Bassem who is in the top 100. The remaining three slots are up for grabs.

The 2023 World Cup will occur in Azerbaijan from 29th July to 25th August 2023.

Robert Mcligeyo is out for other motives. The under-18 junior is seeking to position himself to become the first Kenyan IM and later GM. Such high profile tournament is what he needs to grow his ratings and gain the necessary experience. He demonstrated his commitment by breaking into the national team twice by the age of 16 and has also become the highest-rated player in the country.

On the other hand, WCM Joyce Nyaruai will be out to grab a coveted World Cup slot as well. She will be out also to seek revenge on the Wafa sisters, who had a field day during Kenya Open held last month in Nairobi.

The event has players from 24 African nations and will end on 14th May 2023. The venue is the Hor Moheb Hotel.

The prize fund is USD 20,000 (Open – USD 14,000 and Ladies – USD 6,000). The winner in the Open section goes home with USD 5,000, while the Ladies section winner will win USD 2,000.