Home stars shine on second day of Kenya Open Chess Championship

Kenyan players caused upsets on the second day of the on-going Kenya Open chess championships at Sarit Center.

Jamie Kanango upset Uganda FIDE Master Harold Wanyama who is rated 2303. The 15year old Kanango from Mombasa is rated 1440 and will be part of the players who will represent Kenya at the World Schools Championships to be held in Greece next week.

Wanyama, a seasoned national team player for Uganda won bronze at the last All-Africa games in Morrocco four years ago. Wanyama is also the defending champion of the Kenya Open Championships after winning last year.

University of Nairobi student, Timothy Mwabu rated 1718 upsets the reigning African Junior chess champion International Master Jan Karsten who is rated 2292 of South Africa.

Mwabu had earlier beaten the 2000 and 2004 Kenya Open winner Candidate Master Benjamin Magana in round two.

Mathew Kanegeni another Kenyan outplayed GM Sriram Jha of India rated 2310 missing a win but securing a precious draw.

Gor Mahia boss McKinstry under no pressure as title race hots up

In the ladies category, 16-year-old Fathima Mohamed rated 1267 upset Olympian WCM Lucy Wanjiru.

WCM Joyce Nyaruai outplayed pre-tournament favourite WGM Josefine Heinemann of Germany only to blunder in the end to lose

2021 Woman World Amateur Chess Championship gold medalist in Under 1700 category Madelta Glenda of Kenya and reigning Kenya woman champion Sasha Mongeli appeared headed for draws against Egyptian sisters woman grandmasters Shrook and Shahenda Wafa respectively only to lose in the end.

Relegation threatened Shujaa set to rope in experienced Amonde, Agero to help team avoid the drop

Top Kenyan youngster Robert McLigeyo dominated and missed a win, then a draw, against grandmaster Hesham Abdelrahman of Egypt only to lose

The 9-nine round event continues today with rounds five and six and will conclude on Monday 10th April.