Terrence Muhambe wins inaugural Nandi County Blitz Tournament
Terrence Muhambe, a former student of Baringo High School, won the inaugural Nandi County Blitz Tournament with 7.5 points out of eight rounds. He took home the first prize of KES 10,000.
He sends kind words of appreciation to his father, who taught him chess briefly from absolute basics.
“While in school, I acknowledge the difficulty in accessing an opportunity to play even one game because there was only one chess board in the school of over two thousand students”.
He remembers taking courage and going personally to the principal’s office to ask for support in chess sports. Soon after, the principal, in a surprise move, bought ten standard chess boards. It was a big boost for him and the boys in the school.
However, he suffered a setback due to the interruption caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. He eventually never attended a chess tournament to improve his skills.
Terrence Muhambe, a second-year nursing student at the Kaimosi University in Vihiga County, vividly remembers attending the following events and scored as indicated;
– 2023 Kitale Open – 2/6
– 2023 Mombasa Open – 3.5/6
– The 2023 Kisumu Open – 3/6
– 2023 Bungoma Open – 4/6
Terrence acknowledges he often finds concentration problems with classical tournaments. He, however, finds blitz enjoyable and exciting.
He encourages all chess players never to give up on chess even if they experience a difficult start or low performance during some events.
In the same event, Hugh Misiko of Equity Chess Club emerged in second place with seven points, while Deng Maguor of the Eldoret Konvy Chess Club came in third place on tiebreaks with six points, a position shared by four players.
Youth Section & Cadets Section
Okello Kellan of the Greenvale School won the Youth Category. Floyd Wasonga came in second, and Ryan Kipchumba from the Little Lambs came in third.
In the Cadets’ Category, Darien Kigen Rotich from Moi Tambach came first with 6 points. His brother Damien Kibet Rotich & Skylar Amor came tied for second place.
The event, which attracted almost a hundred players, ended peacefully in good evening weather.
Links
Nandi County Chess Tournament (Blitz) on chess-results.com.
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Article by Kenya Chess Masala.
