48 players qualify for the second round of Olympiad qualifiers

Newly crowned national chess champions Joseph Methu and Sasha Mongeli lead the list of players who will play in the second round of the Olympiad qualifiers to be held on January 25-27, 2024, at KCB Sports Club Ruaraka.

Methu was crowned the men's national champion, while Mongeli won the ladies' category during the national championships, which came to an end on December 30 last year.

The national championships were just the first round of the Olympiad qualifiers. Held every two years, this year’s World Olympiad, organized by the world chess governing body FIDE, will be held in Hungary from September 3-21, 2024.

To prove the competitiveness of the national championships and the changing terrain, ten junior players sneaked into the top 24 in the women's category and will be attempting to make it into the senior national team, all of them for the first time.

They include Elizabeth Cassidy, who won a bronze medal at the Africa Youth Championships in Egypt last year; Barnice Wambui; Kisumu-based Shukri Shakira; 11-year-old Winnie Kaburo (a gold medalist at the Africa Youth Championships held in Zambia in 2022); Kangambi Angel; Arianne Hera Ngani; Mckenzie Channel; Mwashe Vyonne Adego; Kaloki Zuri; and Mercy Ingado.

Former national champion Joyce Nyaruai, who was a runner-up last year, also made it to the second round qualifiers, as well as Julie Mutisya, who was placed third in the national championships. Others include Ether Karanja, Muhanji Tsisika, Madelta Glenda, Nicole Albright, Kimani Wanjiru, Francisca Kagwira, Mable Kawa, Njama Felista Wairimu, Apondi Ashley, and Brenda Changaya.

In the men's category, national champion Joseph Methu leads a pack of 24 players into the second round. There were no major surprises, with the majority of those who have been playing in the last three years making it again.

Equity Bank’s Elvis Likoko, who was the runner-up to Methu, former national champion Mehul Gohil, Ben Magana, Mathew Kanegeni, and James Kabui are some of the usual participants.

Kimani Kimingi, who was a surprise fifth-place finisher at the national championships, makes it to the qualifiers for the first time. The rest are Kenneth Omollo, Moses Andiwo, Ricky Sang, Martin Njoroge, Shile Lenny Mataiga, Okeyo Steven, Mutuma Kinoti, Brian Adorwa, Boera Felix, Amos Simiyu, Hillary Sagwe, Robby Kabbis, John Mukabi, Brian Mwang, Victor Ngani, Ian Mutuga, and Cliff Ben.

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