Kenya sends 24 players to World Chess Schools Championships in Serbia

Kenya has sent a team of 24 players to the World Schools Chess Championships in Serbia which is scheduled for Thursday 20 to Saturday 29 March.

The team departed for Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia on Monday night with three of the players winning the rights to take part in the ten-day event after winning gold medals during last year’s Africa Schools Chess Championships held in Ghana.

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Former African under-8 champion Winnie Kaburo is among the players representing Kenya in the event. She will take part in the under-11 category.

Kaburo’s brother Nathaniel Manyeki will also take part in the under-11 category. Manyeki’s last international tournament was in South Africa last year where he won a silver medal at the Africa Youth Chess Championships.

According to Chess Kenya Secretary General John Mukabi, the tournament is important in exposing junior players and will go a long way in helping them improve their understanding of the game.

“This is the second time in three years that we are taking a team to the World Schools tournament. It is a big event that attracts the best players from different parts of the world giving our players good exposure,” he said.

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Mukabi said players who are travelling to Serbia are those who finished in the top three during the Kenya National Schools Chess Championships held in Nakuru last year.

“We hope this can motivate other players to do well in future events because of the opportunity to represent the country at major international events.”

The Kenyan team will be handled by veteran coach Ben Magana who will be assisted by Ann Kungu.

Team Kenya Squad to Serbia

Under-7: Gene, Pence Barasa, Ariela, Telo. Under-9: Oluchiri, Jadarudo Achieng, Ishimwe, Marc-Antoine. Under-11: Osidiana, Eli, Waweru Trevor Kipngetich, Nathaniel Manyeki Muchoki, Kaburo Winnie, Makanga, Annabel Shah Lalji Nangpar.

Under-13: Simiyu, Jadon, Abel, Taji Kimani, Obonyo, Abigail, Fantalis, Lucy Nduta, Mathenge, Gichuga, Kuka, Kyle, Kaloki, Zuri, Patricia, Nafuna.

Under-15: Gathigia Angel, Elizabeth Cassidy, Ava Nyaboke. Under-17: Jerry Duplantis Simiyu, Lwanga, Odongo, Jamie, Obora Kanango and Erica Mumbi.