Prize money for Nakuru Open Chess Championships announced
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 30.04.25. | 16:00
Former league champions KCB will be taking ten players to the three-day event, among them national champion Robert Macligeyo
Chess action resumes on Thursday with the Nakuru Open tournament taking place at the Capital Hill Hotel.
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This is the fourth grand prix event in the chess calendar and has attracted big names on the local scene.
On offer is a prize fund of Ksh130,000 that will be up for grabs in the open and women's categories.
The top prize in the open category is Ksh30,000, while the women's winner will walk away with Ksh15,000.
There will also be a Ksh5,000 prize for the winner of the Veterans category set aside for players over 50 years of age.
According to Dickson Gitari, the organiser of the event, there will also be a one-day tournament for juniors on Saturday.
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“We expect a strong field of players to take part, considering the attractive prize fund as well as an opportunity to earn grand prix points,” he said.
Gitari has at the same time announced that the organisers have extended an offer of free entries to the first 12 ladies who register for the event. This is supposed to encourage more ladies to participate.
Former league champions KCB will be taking ten players to the three-day event, among them national champion Robert Macligeyo. Joseph Methu, another former national champion, will also represent the Bankers in the tournament.
In the ladies category, Joyce Nyaruai will also be looking to do well for the Bankers in the event. She will get tough opposition from defending champion Julie Mutisya, who is representing Equity Bank.
Equity, the current league champions, will also be taking a strong team to Nakuru, comprising Hugh Misikho and Uganda’s Patrick Kawuma.
South Sudanese Gong Thon Gong is among the favourites to win the event. Gong has won the last three Grand Prix events, collecting an impressive Ksh120,000 in the process.
He won the Kisumu Open, the Mavens Open and the Waridi Chess Festival.
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