KCB Chess Club clinch Kenya National Chess League
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 03.12.25. | 14:08
To emerge as champions, KCB beat Black Knights 3-2 on Saturday, with Equity Bank being held to a tie by Elite Chess Club
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Chess Club emerged as the champions of this year’s Kenya National Chess League.
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The Bankers dethroned their counterparts, Equity Bank, who finished third after being declared champions last year.
KCB overcame final-day obstacles to be declared champions by the barest of margins as they finished on the same number of points as runners-up, Mavens Chess Club.
To emerge as champions, KCB beat Black Knights 3-2 on Saturday, with Equity Bank being held to a tie by Elite Chess Club. At the end of the matches, all the top three teams, KCB, Equity and Mavens were tied at the top each with 35 match points.
It was therefore left to the last day to decide the winner, with all three teams facing stern tests.
The Bankers started the day on a positive note, picking a crucial win against Light House Alpha 4-1. Equity Bank, on the other hand, drew their last match of the day against Mavens, allowing KCB to sneak home and win the title.
KCB pocketed Ksh130,000 for the win while Mavens walked home with Ksh80,000.
Equity Bank collected Ksh60,000 for finishing in third position. Kisumu Chess Club and Knight Chess Academy have been relegated from the top tier after finishing at the bottom.
Next year’s league will be held from the month of April and will run for eight months.
Black Knights Chess Club won the Super League Division, finishing ahead of newcomers Pmadol Chess Club. Both teams earned promotion to next year’s top-tier league.
Speaking during the league’s closing ceremony, Chess Kenya Treasurer Gilbert Wandera promised that from next year, the prize fund will increase significantly.
“We are looking to increase the prize fund to at least Ksh1.5 million for both leagues. Within three years, we want clubs to be earning at least Ksh3 million after playing for eight months,” he promised.
