Former national champions stumble on first day of Nairobi Open Chess Championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 19.10.24. | 21:41
These were the only surprise results on the first day of a tournament that has attracted a record 300 players
Former national champions Martin Njoroge and Mehul Gohil suffered first-round losses as the Nairobi Open Chess Championship started on Saturday at Wadi Degla Club.
These were the only surprise results on the first day of a tournament that has attracted a record 300 players.
Both Mehul and Njoroge performed poorly last weekend in the Mombasa Open and were hoping to recover ahead of the national championships in December but it was not to be.
Mehul lost to Nhiah Jeremiah while Njoroge went down to Mukisa Joshua and both will be under pressure to win their remaining matches if they hope to finish in the prize bracket.
Mombasa Open Champion Gong Thon Gong from South Sudan started well beating Larry Kagambi in the opening match.
National team player Robert Macligeyo was also in top form edging out Julie Mutisya in the opening match.
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Current national Champions Joseph Methu and Woman Fide Master Sasha Mongeli easily won their first-round matches as well.
Veteran Benjamin Magana playing in board two was too strong for Candidate Master (CM) Lwanga Aguda.
Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Joyce Nyaruai from KCB also won her first game against Omondi Suleiman.
In the junior category, Zawadi Zoe Ebba from Mavens Chess Club collected six points to emerge the winner in the under-6 category. Rayuon Kirega Mwangi from Maria Loreto School was runners-up with five points while Moses Jabali from Sukari Presbyterian was third on four points.
Jayden Kiogora Mwenda from Mountain View School collected six points to emerge winner in the under-8 category ahead of second-placed Andy Zane Wright from Mirema School. Adriel Baraka from Brookshine Schools was third with five points.
Gichuga Wanjiru Wanjiku from Mavens Chess Club was the winner in the under-10 category with six points. She was followed by her teammate Kamoni Elsie who collected five points.
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