Wagodo Abdul Shakuru wins 2026 Eldoret Open
Wagodo Abdul Shakuru of Uganda beat a strong field of players to win the 2026 Eldoret Open with a score of 5.4 points out of six rounds. His cash winnings totalled an impressive KES 45,000 over two days of work!
It is worth noting that this was Wagodo Abdul Shakuru’s first victory on Kenyan soil.
The event, which was the first Grand Prix in Kenya, saw a total of 126 players, mostly from Kenya but also including 10 from South Sudan and 1 from Uganda.
Ladies Section
WCM Joyce Nyaruai Ndirangu bounced back from her disappointing run at the 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship last December to win the event with an impressive score of six points out of six rounds. She went home with KES 20,000.
Elizabeth Cassidy Maina took the silver with 4.5 points, while Nicole Albright took the bronze with 4.5 points but a lower tie-break.
This section saw 28 players in action.
Juniors Section
Prince Isaac Munyua of Kitale School won the Boys Section with 5.5 points out of six round beating a field of 62 players.
Faith Leticia Wafula, on the other hand, won the Ladies Section with a perfect six points out of six rounds. A total of 34 girls took part in this section.
Game Corner
Photo Gallery
Event details
Dates: 7th & 8th February 2026.
Number of rounds: six rounds.
Total Prize Fund: KES 111,000.
Top Prize Open Section: KES 45,000.
Top Prize Ladies Section: KES 20,000.
Time control: 90 minutes flat for Open & Ladies while for Junior Section 30 minutes.
Venue: St. Luke’s Hospital Orthopedic & Trauma Hospital, Eldoret.
Links
2026 Eldoret Open Chess Championship on chess-results.com.
Live Games from the 2026 Eldoret Open Chess Championship.
Photo Album for the 2026 Eldoret Open.
2026 Kenya Grand Prix Standing.
Mark Nyola wins 2025 Eldoret Chess Open Tournament.
2025 Eldoret Open on livechesscloud.com.
2025 Eldoret Open on lichess.org..
Results and standings from the 2025 Eldoret Open on chess-results.com.
2012 Eldoret Chess Championship.
Article by Kenya Chess Masala.