2025 Kiambu Open Chess Tournament
The 2025 Kiambu Open Chess Tournament concluded last weekend with Mehul Gohil winning the event with an impressive maximum score of six points out of six rounds to go home with KES 40,000 (USD 325). He beat a field of 108 contestants to earn an impressive TPR of 2744 and boost his GP standing.
Wech Adol Chol of South Sudan was second with 5.5 points to win KES 20,000.
The South Sudan Connection
Mehul Gohil’s victory was significant for Kenyan fans, marking the first local win in the 2025 FIDE-rated events. The previous six events had been dominated by foreign players, as shown in the chart below, making Mehul Gohil’s triumph a moment of pride and celebration for the local chess community.
Gong Thon Gong of South Sudan, the winner of three of the 2025 events, did not participate as he had returned home.
James Panchol, his compatriot and winner of the two events in 2025, stumbled in the event by losing the last two rounds to his compatriots Wech Adol Chol and Peter Majur Manyang to end up with four points and 14th in the ranking. However, for James Panchol, the event will have sweet memories, especially with his Queen sacrifice on move 39 in his game against the talented Kyle Kuka, leading to a brilliant mate in two.
Seven players from South Sudan took part, adding some international flavour to the event.
Ladies and Junior Section
WCM Jully Mutisya won the Ladies’ Section with 5.5 points. In second place was the talented Bernice Gikandi, who also scored 5.5 points to tie for joint first place but took the silver medal due to a lower tie-break. The Ladies’ Section saw 40 players taking part.
Adien Wanina Ngruiya won the Junior Section with five points, beating a strong field of 48 contestants.
Other details
The 2025 Kiambu Open Chess Tournament, organised by the Kiambu County Association at the plus Rainbow Resort in Ruiru, was a resounding success. This second edition, coming almost ten years after the inaugural 2015 Kiambu Open, was a proud moment for the Kiambu County Association.
The event, which ran over the weekend of 10th & 11th May 2025, was the sixth tournament in the Grand Prix series, which forms part of the 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship.
Game Corner
Photo gallery and poster
Links
2025 Kiambu Open Chess Tournament on lichess.org.
2025 Kiambu Open on chess-results.com.
Video of the Closing Ceremony.
Kiambu Open Breaks All Time Record With 361 Entries.
Chess Shop
Article by Kenya Chess Masala.
