Kenyan champion off to a positive start in Madagascar

National champion Joseph Methu won his first match at the on-going zone 4.4 Chess Championships in Madagascar.

Methu was on fire stopping Lam Kin Cheung Stephane from Mauritius and was among the leading pack in the early stages of the tournament.

With a ranking of 1560, the Mauritian was not going to be a problem to Methu whose ranking is just two points shy of the 2000 mark as he rated 1998.

Coming into the tournament, Methu was in fine form and motivated after being crowned the Kenya national champion last month for the very first time in his playing career.

Speaking from Madagascar, Methu said he is not under pressure to win the tournament but is determined to improve his ratings.

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“The tournament has a strong field including one of the highest-rated players in Africa but that is not a problem for me and it does not put me under any pressure. Just like during the national championships, I will take each match as it comes and we see how I will end up. My biggest focus is to improve my ratings and this is a good tournament to do that,” he said.

Methu will also be chasing a ticket to the All-Africa games set to be held in March in Ghana.

Ben Magana, another Kenyan, also won his match after he beat Omar Aden Omar from Sudan.

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But two other players, Hugh Misikho and Elvis Likoko lost their matches.

Misikho was beaten by Andrianiaina Heritiana from Madagascar, while Likoko also lost to another home player Ranaivoharisoa Alain.

Both players are featuring for Kenya for the first time at the senior level and could have been affected by inexperience.

However, they still have time to improve and do better in their remaining matches.

The tournament’s highest-ranked player Rakotomaharo Antenaina from Madagascar easily won his match after stopping compatriot Haftom Ghebremedhn.