All set for first ever Kenya Schools Chess League in 2024

Chess Kenya has introduced the first ever Kenya Schools Team league that will start on 21 January in a year that promises to be a busy one for junior players.

The winner of the league will qualify to take part in this year’s World Schools Team Championships to be held in Romania from 1-9 June 2024.

The league according to regulations released by the federation will comprise categories including: a Primary School league comprising seven players from both gender, a Secondary Girls League also comprising seven players as well as a Secondary Boys League also comprising seven players.

Chess Kenya chairman Bernard Wanjala said the league will be played from the regional levels with the top three teams playing in the final that will be used to pick the national champion who will represent the country at the World event.

“If only three or less teams show interest in taking part in the regionals, they will be invited directly to the national level,” he said.

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Furthermore, he explained that the Boys and Girls leagues may be merged but awarded separately depending on the number of schools who will register.

“Each school is entitled to enter only one team with the exception of mixed schools which can enter more than one school,” he explained.

Apart from the regional leagues the federation will also host its regional qualifier tournament to select national junior teams for this year’s international tournaments.

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A total number of 18 regions will host the qualifiers leading to the finals of the Kenya National Youth Chess Championships in April at Mangu High School.

Nairobi region will hold their qualifiers on 17 February with Nyanza holding the last qualifiers on 2 March.

A total of 10,000 school children will take part in the regional qualifiers which have become a hotbed for nurturing talent in the country.