Irungu upsets Mehul at Nakuru Open Championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 02.05.25. | 19:50
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Brian Irungu upset former national champion Mehul Gohil on the first day of the Nakuru Open Chess Championships.
After a cunning tactical sequence, Gohil walked straight into a one-move checkmate trap.
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With nowehere to go, Irungu pounced, sealing the game in style. A total of 76 players are taking part in the three-day tournament that is one of the grand prix events.
Joyce Nyaraui who finished runners-up during last year’s Kenya National Chess Championships also found the going tough losing to Suleiman Omondi from Egerton University.
Nyaruai has opted to take part in the open event where she is assured of facing some tough opposition in a bid to improve on her ratings.
The tournament’s top seed from Mavens Chess Club Pathom Garang lost to fellow South Sudanese Yaak Garang from Nairobi Chess Academy proving the competitiveness of the event.
Allan Chumba pulled off a miracle against Peter Majur salvaging a draw from what looked like a completely lost position.
Veteran Jacob Onditi and Panchol Madol from South Sudan ended their duel in a balanced draw, as did the encounter between Ngong Samuel Gai and Hugh Misiko.
Ricky Sang stumbled in a complex endgame against his teammate, immediate former Kenyan Champion Methu Joseph who capitalized on a knight advantage to clinch the point.
In the ladies' category, Madelta Glenda made a commanding start, leading the pack with a flawless performance.
Glenda is making a return to competitive play after more than six months as she was finishing her studies at the University of Nairobi.
Nicole Albright who is also coming back after a long layoff went down to Ether Karanja in a tightly contested fixture.
Elsewhere, Kenya will send three players to next month’s Africa Individual Chess Championships to be held in Egypt.
The three are national champions Robert Macligeyo and Sasha Mongeli as well as Joseph Kimingi.
The tournament kicks off on May 12 and will run until May 21 and brings together top players from the continent.
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