Kenya registers four wins in Round Nine of World Youth Chess Championships

In a display of skill and strategy, Team Kenya registered four wins in Round Nine of the ongoing World Youth Chess Championships.

Also, three Kenyan players earned their first-ever ratings in what has been a successful tour by the team who will look back with pride as the event concludes on Saturday.

Natalie Watitu registered Kenya’s first victory of the day after stopping 1400-rated Brazilian Orsini Sarah De Oliveira.

Then Lisa Wanjiru Njuguna outplayed fellow Kenyan Hope Muthoni in a spirited game.

The third win came from Valma Njoki after she brought down Bolivia’s Justiniano Flores.

Then Francis Njenga (Elo 1455) made a bold move, toppling Brazil's 1512-rated Dhom Lemos Frederico capping off a great afternoon.

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Wesley Gitau Njau was not so lucky as he went down to Bolivian Salamanca Paraguayo Mateo (1571).

Gitau held his ground with a determined game but was beaten towards the end after losing concentration.

Jabu Kariuki also ended the day on a losing note as he went down to a highly-rated Paraguayan, Acevedo Barreto Ezequiel (1570) in a well-fought battle that could have gone either way.

National Ladies Junior Champion Zuri Kaloki (1624) fell once again in a match she faced 1831-rated American Danduprolu Ridhi Varma, showcasing her competitive edge.

Kaloki has so far picked the highest number of points in the Kenyan team having collected four.

Mathenge Gichuga had a battle on his hands against Brazillian De Souza Arthur Neres (1724) in a highly-rated contest but he could not match his opponent in an under-16 category.

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Simiyu Daniel Baraka (1575) also fell to 1830-rated Brazilian, Silva Henrique Brasil Barrientos.

Under-18 category girls’ representative Nelly Kariuki faced a tough match against Brazilian Motta Agahta Dos Santos (1497) but despite demonstrating her grit and resilience she fell in the end game.

The national junior champion Hawi Kaloki had a game to remember as he went toe to toe with highly rated Angolan Candidate Master Sonhy Jaime, rated 2140.

Though the odds were high, Kaloki fought valiantly before going down.