Gorilla Fart #6 – Round 6 Review

Report by – Mehul Gohil aka ‘Gorilla’

Kenya lost to Sudan. This means Team Kenya is performing just like any of the other Olympiad outings so far. Nothing special so far results-wise. We are on track to finish in the usual position 120-140 bracket.

Some statistics

Kenya is currently ranked in position 128.

As expected, our Boards 3, 4 and 5 have gardened the most points (These boards are traditionally the ‘points generating engine’ for any team). Each of the players on these boards is currently at a 50% score. Each of them is an untitled player. So currently they are at CM status.

If anyone (or more than one) of them can ‘fire’ an FM title could be in the offing (McLigeyo deserves an FM title, fingers crossed). But hopefully we come out with at least a player bagging an official title.

McLigeyo continues to be the best performer on the team. Current TPR a healthy 2160.

Kenya is in Category D. Here it is ranked No.12. Which is why match with Sudan was key. Had we won, we would move into contention for top 3 prize in this category. It was something to aim for. But now it is unlikely.

Team Kenya members from left Elvis Likoko, Martin Njoroge & Robert Mcligeyo pose with GM Anish Giri. Gorilla Fart #6 — Team Kenya members from left Elvis Likoko, Martin Njoroge & Robert Mcligeyo pose with GM Anish Giri. Photo credit Erika Sziva.

Chess-wise

McLigeyo played another standout game. Really wonderful. It was a harmony between strategic understanding and very sharp eye for dynamics and combinative possibilities. One of his best of the Olympiad. Lovely stuff.

Also notable is his stamina lasting through the game. Even though he had a won position he continued to pose his opponent with fresh problems late into the game. It is called Killer Instinct. Which is letting the opponent know whatever he does, he will still die.

There is a clear difference in the level of play between McLigeyo and rest of the guys on the team. T he other guys have not exhibited this harmony of Strategy and Tactics in their games. You don’t sense a harmonious flow in their games unlike those of McLigeyo. For the future, if Team Kenya is going to beat the likes of Trinidad and Sudan, we will need 2 or 3 players playing at the level of McLigeyo on the team.

Team Kenya now has no margin for error in the remaining rounds if they are to aspire to finish above position 120. A loss to a lower rated team at this point would be a disaster.

Game Corner

About Mehul Gohil

Mehul Gohil is the a three times Kenya National Chess Champion (2014, 2019 & 2022. He has won several major events in the country including the 66th Nairobi Chess Club Championship.