World School Chess Championships-bound quartet extended African sponsorship boost
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 22.12.24. | 19:15
The four earned Conditional Candidate Master (CM) and Women Candidate Master (WCM) titles pending achievement of rating requirements
Four Kenyan players have earned the right to take part in next year’s World Schools Chess Championships to be held in Serbia from March 19-29.
The four will be fully sponsored to take part in the ten-day event after triumphing at the just concluded Africa Schools Chess Championships held in Accra Ghana.
The Africa Chess Confederation sponsors all gold medalists to the world event.
Those who will be sponsored include Gene Pence Barasa, Annabel Makanga, Ava Nyaboke and Prudence Kimeli who all won gold in Ghana.
Barasa who won a gold medal in the boys under-7 category is a promising young talent who has played chess for less than two years but is already showing a lot of promise.
The Girls under-11 gold medalist Makanga won her first ever continental title after being in the shadows of former African champion Winnie Kaburo. Prior to travelling to Ghana, she had attended a two week holiday camp to sharpen her skills.
The girls under-13 winner Nyaboke was the surprise package in this year’s tournament considering that it was her first continental event.
She showed exceptional performance showcasing maturity and skill in handling high-pressure situations, bringing home another victory for Kenya.
She was also a beneficiary of a two weeks holiday camp organised in conjunction with the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS).
Kimeli will be proud of her performance, this being just her second time to take part in a continental event but she still gave her best to emerge winner in the girls under-17 category.
The four also earned Conditional Candidate Master (CM) and Women Candidate Master (WCM) titles pending achievement of rating requirements.
According to Chess Kenya chairman Bernard Wanjala, the success shown by the four players is a reflection of their hard work, dedication of their coaches, and the unwavering support of their families.
“This victory is not just for the players but for the entire chess community in Kenya. These young champions have proven that with determination and support, we can compete and excel on the international stage,” he said.
He added: "The performance of Team Kenya is expected to inspire a new generation of chess players and attract more investment in the sport. It also positions Kenya as a strong contender in upcoming international chess events.”
The Africa Schools Chess Championship is an annual event that brings together top young chess players from across the continent. It is organized under the auspices of the African Chess Confederation and serves as a platform for nurturing future chess stars.
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